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HomeMy WebLinkAbout98-0609 No.12 COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO JUNE 9, 1998 MAYOR Hon. Anthony M. Masiello COMPTROLLER Joel A. Giambra COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL James W. Pitts PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE David A. Franczyk MAJORITY LEADER Rosemarie Lo Tempio COUNCILMEMBERS-AT-LARGE Beverly Gray Barbara Kavanaugh Rosemarie LoTempio DISTRICTCOUNCILMEMBERS ALFRED T. COPPOLA - DELAWARE BARBARA MILLER-WILLIAMS - ELLICOTT DAVID A. FRANCZYK - FILLMORE RICHARD A. FONTANA - LOVEJOY BYRON BROWN - MASTEN ROBERT QUINTANA - NIAGARA DALE ZUCHLEWSKI - NORTH DENNIS T. MANLEY - SOUTH KEVIN J. HELFER - UNIVERSITY REGULARCOMMITTEES CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE: Beverly Gray, Chairman, Alfred T. Coppola, Kevin J. Helfer, Barbra Kavanaugh, Dennis A. Manley CLAIMS COMMITTEE: Robert Quintana, Chairman, Alfred T. Coppola, David Franczyk, Kevin J. Helfer, Barbara Miller-williams, Members COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Dale L. Zuchlewski Chairman, Byron Brown, Richard A. Fontana, Kevin J. Helfer, Rosemarie LoTempio, Barbara Miller-Williams Members FINANCE COMMITTEE: David Franczyk, Chairman, Byron Brown, Beverly Gray, Kevin J. Helfer, Dennis T. Manley, Dale Zuchlewski Members. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE: Alfred T. Coppola, Chairman, Richard T. Fontana, Kevin J. Helfer, Barbra Kavanaugh, Rosemarie LoTempio, Robert Quintana, Members RULES COMMITTEE: James W. Pitts, Chairman Kevin J. Helfer, Rosemarie LoTempio , Members EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Barbra A. Kavanaugh Chairman, David A. Franczyk, Beverly Gray, Kevin J. Helfer, Barbara Miller-Williams, Dale Zuchlewski Members SPECIALCOMMITTEES TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: James W. Pitts, Chairman, Alfred T. Coppola, Richard T. Fontana, Beverly Gray, Kevin J. Helfer BUDGET COMMITTEE: Rosemarie LoTempio , Chairman, Byron Brown , Alfred T. Coppola, David Franczyk, Kevin J. Helfer, ERIE BASIN MARINA LEASE COMMITTEE: James W. Pitts, Chairman, Alfred T. Coppola, Richard T. Fontana, Kevin J. Helfer, Rosmarie LoTempio, Robert Quintana POLICE REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE: Robert Quintana, Chairman, Beverly Gray, Kevin J. Helfer, Rosemarie LoTempio, Dennis A. Manley CORPORATION PROCEEDINGS COMMONCOUNCIL CITYHALL-BUFFALO TUESDAY,JUNE9,1998 S.E.Q.R. the proposed awning sign is considered an unlisted AT2:00P.M. action which may be studied through uncoordinated review. The Planning Board voted to approve the proposed awning PRESENT - James W. Pitts President of the Council, sign with the condition that public works review and approve and and Council Members Brown, Coppola, Czajka, said awning sign. Franczyk, Gray,, Kavanaugh, Lockwood, LoTempio, Pitts, REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION Quintana, and Zuchlewski - 11. NO.3 ABSENT - Councilmembers Helfer and Williams-2. R.CHAINANI-1116ELMWOODAVE. 28’X10.5’SIDEWALKCAFE On a motion by Mrs. LoTempio, seconded by Mr. ITEMNO.105,5/26/98 Fontana, the minutes of the stated meeting held on May The City Planning Board at its regular meeting held Tuesday, 26, 1998 were approved. June 2, 1998 considered the matter captioned above pursuant to Section 413-59 and 511-56 of the Buffalo Code, Sidewalk FROMTHEMAYOR Cafe’s and Elmwood Business District respectively. NO.1 The applicant seeks to place a 28’x 10.5’ sidewalk cafe RETURNBUDGETMESSAGE which will encroach the right-of-way. Under S.E.Q.R. the I hereby return the City Budget for Fiscal Year 1998-99 to proposed sidewalk cafe is considered an unlisted action which your honorable body without vetoes. In so doing I wish to may be studied through uncoordinated review. commend the Council for the fiscal restraint it demonstrated in The Planning Board voted to approve the proposed sidewalk limiting its line item cuts to a reasonable level. Further, I want cafe with the conditions that there will be no outside music, no to thank the Council for adding funding to several important outside trash receptacles and that the sidewalk cafe will close initiatives I had proposed in my recommended budget. at 12 p.m.. The Council's addition of $250,000 to the $100,000 I had RECEIVED AND FILED included in my recommended budget for the Downtown NO.4 Parking Shuttle is an add I am very pleased to support. I 765ELMWOODAVE. believe this initiative will go a long way toward rejuvenating the L.P.CONVERTSTOREANDENLARGERESTAURANT market for downtown office and retail space and will serve as ITEMNO.108,5/26/98 an important tool in our fight to foster economic development in The City Planning Board at its regular meeting held Tuesday, the downtown core. Discussions are already underway with June 2, 1998 considered the matter captioned above pursuant Buffalo Place and Erie County concerning the purchase of the to Section 511-56 of the Buffalo Code, Elmwood Business shuttle busses and operations of this service. District. The Council's retention of the demolition crews I had The applicant seeks to convert an existing store into a take- recommended and the expansion of this initiative is another out restaurant and enlarge an existing sit-in restaurant and element of your adopted budget I want to acknowledge. These place a second floor outdoor patio along which will encroach crews will now be funded whether or not Local 264 ratifies the the right-of-way. Under S.E.Q.R. the proposed restaurants creation of the labor pool I had proposed as part of the and outdoor patio is considered an unlisted action which may reorganization of the Refuse and Recycling Enterprise Fund. It be studied through uncoordinated review. is unfortunate that the labor pool cannot yet be created as I had The Planning Board voted to approve the proposed envisioned for this pool would have significantly improved the restaurants and outdoor patio with the conditions that there will condition of our parks and helped with other infrastructure be no outside music, no outside trash receptacles and that the maintenance responsibilities while reducing the garbage user outdoor patio will close at 12 p.m. and can only be entered from fee and retaining the jobs of all Local 264 members. Still, the within the building and that public works approves the patio Council's solution to the dilemma created by Local 264's failure structure. The patio is subject to a 1-year review in September to ratify the Refuse and Recycling reorganization plan is 1999. something I am pleased to support since it retains the very RECEIVED AND FILED important demolition crews. On this point I want also to thank NO.5 Comptroller Giambra for his opinion allowing the use of bond HARBOURPLACEMARINA'S funds to support city demolition crew activities. Additionally, I 2192NIAGARAST. want to acknowledge the Council's unanimous resolution BANQUETROOMADDITION committing to a reduction in the garbage user fee by whatever ITEMNO.107,5/26/98 means necessary. The City Planning Board at its regular meeting held Tuesday, Finally, I want to recognize the addition of Precinct 11 June 2, 1998 considered the matter captioned above pursuant rehabilitation funding to the Capital Budget. This is a project to Section 511-68 and 511-137 of the Buffalo Code, Niagara which I am and have been committed to for some time. I was River Coastal Review District and City Wide Site Plan Review awaiting the development of plans and specifications before respectively. bringing this item to your honorable body but it is an item I am The applicant seeks to construct a 38’x48 1 story steel happy to support at this time given your actions. While on this banquet room addition with a second floor patio. Under SEQR issue of Police, I am compelled to address the issue of the the proposed addition is considered an unlisted action which decentralization of the Traffic function which the Council may be studied through uncoordinated review. proposed by way of transferring 27 Police Officer positions The Planning Board voted to approve the building addition from Traffic to Patrol. Clearly, the Council has identified a and patio with the condition that no outside music is played on pressing need here that must be addressed. However, I the patio. believe this issue needs greater study before a final plan is RECEIVED AND FILED implemented. I pledge to work closely with your honorable NO.6 body on this issue so that a workable solution can be put in IRISHPROPANECORP. place. 218KATHERINEST. In closing, I want to acknowledge the efforts of Majority 24’X40’BUILDINGADDITION Leader LoTempio in fashioning a budget for Fiscal Year 1998-ITEMNO.106,5/26/98 99 that incorporates my and the Council's priorities. I believe The City Planning Board at its regular meeting held Tuesday, this budget keeps us on a path toward bettering city June 2, 1998 considered the matter captioned above pursuant government both fiscally and operationally. Thank you. to Section 511-67 of the Buffalo Code, Buffalo Coastal Special RECEIVED AND FILED Review District. The applicant seeks to erect a 24’x40’ 1 story steel building FROMTHEMAYOR-EXECUTIVEDEPARTMENT addition to a previously approved addition. The building addition is located 110’ away from the Buffalo River. Under FROMTHECITYPLANNINGBOARD S.E.Q.R. the proposed building addition is considered an unlisted action which may be studied through uncoordinated NO.2 review. BRISBANEREALTY395-403MAINST. The Planning Board voted to approve the proposed building 18.5'X4’AWNINGSIGN addition. ITEMNO.94,5/12/98 RECEIVED AND FILED The City Planning Board at its regular meeting held Tuesday, NO.7 June 2, 1998 considered the matter captioned above pursuant "DEMOLITIONOFVERNORBUILDING to Section 511-63 of the Buffalo Code, Sign Overlay District. RESOLUTION#184,C.C.P. The applicant seeks to erect an illuminated 18.5'x 4’ awning MAY26,1998 sign on the Washington St. side of 395 Main St. Under The owners of both the Vernor Building and the Schmidt Building located at 736-750 Main Street will appear before the 71 - Department of Community Development Buffalo Preservation Board on Thursday, June 4, 1998 at 3:00 7 - Division of Development P.M. in Room 901 City Hall to discuss the proposed demolition 074 - Reconstruction Broadway Market $20,323.94 of these structures as ordered by Erie County Judge D'Amico. TO: Community Development Commissioner Joseph E. Ryan, 202 Capital Projects Fund Deputy Commissioner of Community Development, David 40 - Department of Public Works Pawlik, Gary Ziolkowski, Director of Inspections, Licenses & 2 - Division of Buildings Permits, Tracy Krug, Building Inspector and Kevin Keane, 002 - Renovations Broadway Market $20,323.94 Assistant Corporation Counsel and Sandra Nasca, Board Dated, Buffalo, NY May 26, 1998 Counsel will also be in attendance. RECEIVED AND FILED The Buffalo Preservation Board will make its decision based NO.11 upon information presented and will forward their CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY recommendation to Judge D'Amico. TRANSFEROFFUNDS The Common Council will be apprised of the outcome of the DIVISIONOFACCOUNTING Preservation Board meeting and Judge D'Amico's decision COMPTROLLER regarding the demolition of these buildings. We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, If you require additional information regarding this item, you Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 42 of the may contact Thomas W. Marchese, Board Secretary at 851-Charter, that it is necessary that the sum of $2,648 be 5029. transferred and reappropriated from the Division of Accounting, REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE as set forth below: FROM: FROMTHECOMPTROLLER 100 General Fund 04-2 Division of Accounting NO.8 001 - Accounting CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY 110 - Salaries - Regular $2,648 INCREASEDAPPROPRIATION TO: NORTHARMERICAREPARK 100 General Fund We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, 04-0 - Comptroller Comptroller, do hereby certify pursuant to Section 41 of the 001 - Comptroller Charter, that an increase in the sum of $8,080 in the estimates 570 - Financial & Accounting Services $2,648 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997 is necessary in Dated: Buffalo, NY, June 2, 1998 Enterprise Fund - North ArneriCare Park, to meet a RECEIVED AND FILED contingency which could not have been reasonably foreseen NO.12 when the budget was adopted. The amount of increased CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY appropriation will be met from the North AmeriCare Park TRANSFEROFFUNDS account Reserve for Replacements as listed below, not DIVISIONOFACCOUNTING otherwise appropriated for any other purpose. The detail of the COMPTROLLER requirements are set forth below: We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, FROM: Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 42 of the 420 Enterprise Fund - North AmeriCare Park Charter, that it is necessary that the sum of $7,590 be 899002 - Reserve for Replacements $8,080 transferred and reappropriated from the Division of Accounting, TO: as set forth below: 420 Enterprise Fund - North AmeriCare Park FROM: 61 1- North Americare Park 100 General Fund 031 - Mechanical Services 04-2 Division of Accounting 560 - Building Repairs & Alterations $8,080 001 - Accounting Dated: Buffalo, NY, May 21, 1998 110 - Salaries - Regular $7,590 RECEIVED AND FILED TO: NO.9 100 General Fund CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY 04-0 - Comptroller TRANSFEROFFUNDS 085 - Exempt Items MISCELLANEOUSCHARGES 982 - Office Equipment & Furnishing $7,590 DEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT Dated: Buffalo, NY, June 2, 1998 We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, RECEIVED AND FILED Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 42 of the NO.13 Charter, that it is necessary that the sum of $140,000 be CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY transferred and reappropriated from Miscellaneous Charges, CAPITALBUDGETAMENDMENT as set forth below: AUTHORIZATIONFORACHANGEINCAPITAL FROM: INDEBTEDNESS 100 - General Fund We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, 812 - Miscellaneous Charges Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 359 of the 818 - Reserve for Matching Fund Grants $140,000 Charter, that it is necessary to authorize a change in TO: indebtedness for Capital Projects Program, provided by the 100 General Fund Common Council prior to July 1, 1997 for the ensuing fiscal 71 - Department of Community Development year, by eliminating the first item and adding the second item: 2 - Division of Neighborhoods ELIMINATE 021 - Office of Neighborhoods 200 Capital Projects 580 - Non-Professional Personal Services $140,000 402 Division of Buildings Dated: Buffalo, NY, May 21, 1998 Construction of Urban Arts Center $1,000,000 RECEIVED AND FILED ADD NO.10 200 Capital Projects CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY 402 Division of Buildings TRANSFEROFFUNDS Construction of New North Jefferson Branch COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT-BONDFUNDS Library $1,000,000 DEPARTMENTOFPUBLICWORKS-BONDFUNDS Dated: Buffalo, NY, June 2, 1998 We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, RECEIVED AND FILED Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 42 of the NO.14 Charter, that it is necessary that the sum of $20,323.94 be CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT transferred and reappropriated from the Department of Appointment Effective: May 18, 1998 in the Department of Community Development - Division of Development - Capital Audit & Control, Division of Data Processing to the Position of Projects Fund, as set forth below: Senior Data Processing Equipment Operator, Temporary, The amount to be transferred represents an unexpended Promotion, at the Third Step, Starting Salary of: $28,522 balance of items contained in the budget for the current fiscal Janet Reyes: 242 Gorton Street, Buffalo, New York 14207 year and will not be needed at this time for the purpose for REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE which they were appropriated. NO.15 FROM: RESPONSETOITEMNO.14,C.C.P.5/26/98 200 Capital Projects Fund ITEMNO.14,C.C.P.5/26/98 The above captioned item has been referred to the CORPORATION COUNSEL. Comptroller's Office, Division of Real Estate, for a response. In particular Your Honorable Body is looking for information FROMTHEPRESIDENTOFTHECOUNCIL pertaining to alternative sites that were considered their NO.18 assessment and evaluations of these parcels. The following CHANGELYTHSTREETTOTWO-WAY alternative sites are: I am filing the following Petition in support of the changing of 1 . 752 Main Street (Vernor Bldg.) - Assessed Value Lyth Street to two-way. $325,000 - This particular site has environmental issues, A Resolution has been filed and a copy of the Petition has demolition costs and subsequent to the last time we looked at been sent to Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Giambra this site it now has preservation issues. and Councilmember Byron Brown. 2. 140 Genesee Street (between Elm & Oak) - Assessed REFEREED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND Value $150,000 Commissioner Kerlikowske indicated that there COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS. may be some problems with ingress and egress if this site NO.19 were to be considered. CITY-WIDEYOUTHVIOLENCE Once again considerations to a site other than 695 Main PREVENTIONPROJECT Street are: The Urban Christian Ministries, again, has requested this 1. Timeliness year to implement the Youth Violence Prevention Project. This 2. Possible demolition costs is a summer project which features street basketball games 3. Cost of changing design with Block Clubs, a cook-off fund-raiser and a March Against 4. Possibility of environmental issues Youth Violence. 5. Accessibility to vehicular traffic. Last year the Council approved permits at no cost to facilitate As mentioned in Item No. 14, C.C.P. 5/26/98, we feel that the the program. This year the request is the same. acquisition price of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars The following is the schedule for the Summer of 1998: ($700,000) for 695 Main (corner of Main & Tupper) is fair and July 11, 1998 - 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. substantiated by a review appraiser. I am, therefore, Cook-of on Jefferson Avenue requesting that Your Honorable Body to approve the acquisition between High and E. North Sts. of the same. August 8, 1998 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE March Against Youth Violence beginning at 967 Jefferson NO.16 Avenue ending at City Hall. CERTIFICATEOFNECESSITY Finally, there are 12 Block Clubs which are participating in the TRANSFEROFFUNDS Street Block Club Basketball. This would require approximately VARIOUSDEPARTMENTS 60 permits at the following locations: REFUSE&RECYCLING Glenwood/Main (between Main & Michigan) We, Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor and Joel A. Giambra, Stockbridge (between Bailey & Comstock) Comptroller, do hereby certify, pursuant to Section 42 of the Frederick Douglas Towers (on Clinton at Jefferson) Charter, that it is necessary that the sum of $1,068,581 be Ellicott Community (on Hickory between Swan & S. transferred and reappropriated from the Various Departments, Division) as set forth below: Linwood/Oxford (on Oxford between E. Ferry and Balcom) FROM: Winslow (between Fillmore and Kehr) 100 General Fund Sidney (Between Humboldt and Fillmore) 40-2 Division of Buildings Chester (between E. Ferry and Northland) 021 - Administrative Services Northland (between Wohlers and Lonsdale) 574 - Services - Refuse Disposal $373,577 Shoreline (on 7th between W. Mohawk and Carolina) 812 - Miscellaneous Charges Butler (between Humboldt and Wohlers) 574 - Services - Refuse Disposal $185,004 Fox (between Broadway and Sycamore) 70-0 - Division of Streets I. would request that the Council approve the issuance of 013 - Cleaning of Streets & Snow Removal permits to the Urban Christian Ministries for the Youth Violence 110 - Salaries - Regular $370,000 Prevention Project. 032 - Building & Fleet Maintenance Mrs. LoTempio moved: 110 - Salaries - Regular $140,000 That the above communication from the Common Council TO: President dated June 8, 1998, be received and filed; and 100-818-000-00-053 Transfer to Enterprise Fund - Refuse & That the Commissioner of Community Development and/or Recycling $1,068,581 the Commissioner of Public Works, be, and they hereby are FROM: authorized to waive permit fees to the Urban Christian 100-818-000-00-053 Transfer to Enterprise Fund - Refuse & Ministries for the Youth Violence Prevention Project for the Recycling $1,068,581 programs listed in the above communication. TO: PASSED 450 - Enterprise Fund - Solid Waste AYES-11, NOES-0 70-1 - Division of Solid Waste & Recycling NO.20 011 - Collection of Refuse & Recycling NIAGARAMOHAWK'SDEWEYSTREETFACILITY 574 - Services - Refuse Disposal $1,068,581 The attached report from Stanley Radon, Senior Engineering Dated: Buffalo, NY, June 3, 1998 Geologist for the New York State Department of Environmental RECEIVED AND FILED Conservation is a response to a resolution sponsored by NO.17 Councilmembers Coppola and Brown concerning the clean up REQUESTFORHEARINGFORTRANSAMERICAof Niagara Mohawk's Dewey Street Facility. MUNICIPALFINANCE I have requested that Mr. Radon also provide two additional I am respectfully requesting that the Common Council reports pertaining to this situation. convene in whole or in committee to consider a proposal for (attachment) bulk purchase of the City of Buffalo's outstanding property tax REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION liens from the Municipal Finance Division of Transamerica Business Credit Corporation. FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFASSESSMENT Transamerica is a Fortune 500 company and one of the world's largest financial services companies, with over $50 NO.21 billion in assets. PERM.ACCEPT-60HEDLEYPLACE A Transamerica representative recently made a preliminary ASGIFTTOCITY presentation on this topic to the Comptroller, the City Auditor ITEMNO.169,C.C.P.MAY26,1998 and to the Commissioners of Assessment and of The above referenced item has been referred to this Administration & Finance. department for a response. I feel that the Common Council should be apprised as soon A review of our data files shows that the parcel assessed as and as fully as possible of the potential benefits to taxpayers 60 Hedley Place and assessed to John C. Eberhart, Jr., 144 and to the City of the sale of tax liens to an outside entity. I also Hedley Place, Buffalo NY, is scheduled to be foreclosed by the feel that Transamerica Corporation has a strong record of City of Buffalo, October 26, 1998. redeveloping distressed central city properties, and that The city taxes and sewer rent owing are as follows: Transamerica's proposed combination of tax-lien purchase and City Tax Sewer Rent distressed-property rehabilitation merits broad consideration by 1996-97 $615.67 $44.87 your Honorable Body. 1997-98 500.87 38.90 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND Interest is computed as of June 30, 1998. Foreclosure fee is $450. INSTALLNOPARKING 1 would recommend that water and sewer charges, user fee, ONMARTHAJACKSONPLACE,SOUTHSIDEBETWEEN and Erie County taxes be checked to determine if any amounts ENGLEWOODAVENUEANDMONTROSEAVENUE remain outstanding. NO PARKING - INSTALL REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFPUBLICWORKS notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of NO.22 the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9011 after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the INSTALLNOPARKING(HERETOCOMER)ONGENESEEagenda as an item business. STREET,SOUTHEASTSIDEFROMBAILEYAVENUETOA That that part of Subdivision 23 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of POINT150'SOUTHWESTTHEREFROM Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by adding thereto the following: NO PARKING NO PARKING - INSTALL PROHIBITED In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the PORTION OF HIGHWAY PROHIBITED PERIOD Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby Martha Jackson Place, south side At all times notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, between Englewood Avenue and amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of Montrose Avenue the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days This action is being taken at the request of homeowners on after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the Martha Jackson Place and the District Councilmember. agenda as an item business. Martha Jackson Place currently does not contain any parking That that part of Subdivision 23 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of restrictions. Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by adding NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9015 thereto the following: NO PARKING INSTALLSTOPSIGN PROHIBITED PROHIBITED INMARTHAJACKSONPLACE PORTION OF HIGHWAY PERIOD ATENGLEWOODAVENUE Genesee Street, southeast side At all times STOP SIGN - INSTALL from Bailey Avenue to a point In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the 150' southwest therefrom Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby This action is being taken to ease congestion, improve notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, visibility and increase pedestrian and vehicle safety at this amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of intersection. Due to the location of driveways, this action will the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days not result in the loss of additional on-street parking. after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9012 agenda as an item business. NOSTANDINGSCHOOLDAYS-INSTALLONWEST That that part of Subdivision 9 Section II of Chapter 479 of FERRYSTREET,NORTHSIDEFROMAPOINT10'WESTOrdinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by adding OFTHEWESTDRIVEWAYOF#700WESTFERRYthereto the STREETTOAPOINT10'EASTOFTHEEASTDRIVEWAYfollowing: STOP SIGNS #700WESTFERRYSTREET(MONTESSORIGRAMMARVEHICLES ON SHALL STOP BEFORE SCHOOL) ENTERING Martha Jackson Place Englewood Avenue NO STANDING - INSTALL This action is being taken to update our records to reflect In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the existing field conditions. Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9016 notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, REPEALNOPARKING amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of ONWESTMOHAWK,NORTHSIDE the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days BETWEENBEANALLEYANDFRANKLINSTREET after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the NO PARKING - REPEAL agenda as an item business. In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the That that part of Subdivision 22 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by adding notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, thereto the following: NO STANDING amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of PROHIBITED PROHIBITED the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days PORTION OF HIGHWAY PERIOD after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the West Ferry Street, north side 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. agenda as an item business. from a point 10' west of the west School Days That that part of Subdivision 23 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of driveway of #700 West Ferry Street Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by repealing to a point 10' east of the east therefrom the following: NO PARKING driveway of #700 West Ferry Street PROHIBITED This action is being taken to provide a safe area for school PORTION OF HIGHWAY PROHIBITED PERIOD traffic at the request of Nardin Academy Montessori Grammar West Mohawk, north side 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. School. (#700 West Ferry Street) between Bean Alley (except Saturday & Sunday) NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9013 and Franklin Street REPEALOFNOSTANDING(PEAKHOURS)ONWEST This action is being taken in order to update our records to FERRYSTREETNORTHSIDEBETWEEN reflect current parking conditions. DELAWAREAVENUEAND NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9017 ELMWOODAVENUE REPEALNOPARKINGONLEXINGTONAVENUE,NORTH NO STANDING - REPEAL SIDEFROMAPOINT85'WESTOFDELAWAREAVENUE In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the TOAPOINT165'WESTTHEREFROM Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby NO PARKING -REPEAL notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of agenda as an item business. the Ordinances, as stated below, to be effective forty five days That that part of Subdivision 22 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by repealing agenda as an item business. therefrom the following: NO STANDING That that part of Subdivision 24 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of PROHIBITED Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by repealing PORTION OF HIGHWAY PROHIBITED PERIOD therefrom the following: NO PARKING West Ferry Street, north side 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PROHIBITED between Delaware Avenue and PORTION OF HIGHWAY PROHIBITED PERIOD Elmwood Avenue Lexington Avenue, north side At all times This action is being taken in order to update our records and from a point 85' west of Delaware Avenue to reflect current on-street parking conditions. to a point 165' west therefrom NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9014 This action is being taken at the request of the District Councilmember and property owners on Lexington Avenue. of the low bid. Funds for this work will be available in CPF 202- (See next serial) 402-012 - Division of Buildings. NOTIFICATIONSERIAL#9018 Mrs. LoTempio moved: INSTALLNOPARKINGONLEXINGTONAVENUE,NORTH That the above communication from the SIDEFROMAPOINT85'WESTOFDELAWAREAVENUECommissioner of Public Works dated May 28, 1998, be TOAPOINT85'WESTTHEREFROM received and filed; and NO PARKING - INSTALL That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he In conformity with Section 49 of Chapter 479 of the hereby is authorized to award a contract for Kleinhans Music Ordinances of the City of Buffalo, the City Engineer hereby Hall Restoration, Phase 7A, for Mechanical Work Contract B, notifies Your Honorable Body of this action supplementing, to D. V. Brown & Associates, in the amount of $4,790.00; for amending, or repealing existing provisions of Chapter 479 of Electrical Work - Contract D, to Metro Electrical, in the amount the Ordinances, as stated below. to be effective forty five days of $11,500.00, the lowest responsible bidders, with said cost to after the first Council meeting at which they appear on the be charged to CPF 202-402-012 Division of Buildings. agenda as an item business. PASSED. That that part of Subdivision 24 Section 15 of Chapter 479 of AYES-11. NOES-0. Ordinances of the City of Buffalo be supplemented by adding thereto the following: NO PARKING NO.25 PROHIBITED REPORTOFBIDS PORTION OF HIGHWAY PROHIBITED PERIOD KLEINHANSMUSICHALL Lexington Avenue, north side At all times RESTORATIONPHASE7A from a point 85' west of Delaware Avenue I asked for and received the following sealed informal proposals to a point 85' west therefrom for Kleinhans Music Hall, Restoration Phase 7A, which were REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION publicly opened and read on June 4, 1998. This action is being taken at the request of the District Interior 1st Floor Backstage Area Councilmember and property owners on Lexington Avenue. A. Gareleck & Sons, Inc. $19,530.00 (See previous serial) H & B Plumbing No Bid Kipphut & Neumann No Bid NO.23 Exterior Canopy & Service Lift Work REPORTOFBIDS A. Gareleck & Sons, Inc. $ 6,925.00 KLEINHANSMUSICHALLRESTORATION H & B Plumbing No Bid PHASE7 Kipphut & Neumann No Bid EXTERIORCONCRETEWORK/CANOPYREBUILD/ I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct EXTERIORSERVICELIFT/REROOFINGOFCANOPIES statement of all bids received and that the following firms are I advertised for on May 5, 1998 and received the following the lowest responsible bidders in accordance with the plans sealed proposals for Kleinhans Music Hall Restoration, Phase and specifications: 7, Exterior Concrete Work/Canopy Rebuild/Exterior Service Interior 1st Floor Backstage Area A. Gareleck & Sons, Lift/Reroofing of Canopies, which were publicly opened and $19,530.00 read on May 21, 1998. Exterior Canopy & Service Lift Work - A. Gareleck & Sons All State Development $417,000.00 $6,925.00 Gianadda Construction $433,900.00 I recommend that Your Honorable Body authorize the Hadala Corporation $642,000.00 Commissioner of Public Works to order the work on the basis I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct of the low bid. Funds for this work will be available in CPF 202- statement of all bids received and that All State Development, 402-012 - Division of Buildings. Inc., in the amount of Four Hundred Seventeen Thousand and Mrs. LoTempio moved: 00/1 00 Dollars ($417,000.00), is the lowest responsible bidder That the above communication from the in accordance with the plans and specifications: Commissioner of Public Works dated June 4, 1998, be I recommend that Your Honorable Body authorize the received and filed; and Commissioner of Public Works to order the work on the basis That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he of the low bid. Funds for this work are available in CPF 202-hereby is authorized to award a contract for Kleinhans Music 402-012 - Division of Buildings. Hall Restoration, Phase 7A, for Interior 1st Floor Backstage Total estimate for this work was $450,000.00. Area, in the amount of $19,530.00; for Exterior Canopy and Mrs. LoTempio moved: Service Lift Work in the amount of $6,925.00, to A. Gareleck & That the above communication from the Sons, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, with said cost to be Commissioner of Public Works dated May 21, 1998, be charged to CPF 202-402-012 Division of Buildings. received and filed; and PASSED. That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he AYES-11. NOES-0. hereby is authorized to award a contract for Kleinhans Music Hall Restoration, Phase 7, Exterior Concrete Work/Canopy NO.26 Rebuild/Exterior Service Lift/Reroofing of Canopies, to All State REPORTOFBIDS Development, Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount PAINTINGOFLIGHTSTANDARDS1998/1999 of $417,000.00, with said cost to be charged to CPF 202-402-GROUP#478 012 Division of Buildings. ITEM#30CCP4/14/98 PASSED. ITEM#126CCP3/3/98 AYES-11. NOES-0. This is to advise your Honorable Body that I have advertised and received bids on May 27, 1998 for the Painting of Light NO.24 Standards 1998/1999 Group #478. REPORTOFBIDS In obtaining bids for the above project, I have asked for bids on KLEINHANSMUSICHALL a unit price covering the various items of work and materials RESTORATIONPHASE7A which will be performed. The final cost of the work will be I asked for and received the following sealed informal proposals based on the actual measured quantity of light standards for Kleinhans Music Hall, Restoration Phase 7A, which were painted and may be more or less than the total bid. The publicly opened and read on May 22, 1998. following bids were received: Mechanical Work - Contract B Base Bid Unit Price Increase D. V. Brown & Associates $ 4,790.00 E & M Star Pntg., Inc. $123,231.80 $135,554.98 Electrical Work - Contract D T & T Contr. & Pntg Inc. $124,182.00 $136,505.18. Metro Electrical $11,500.00 I hereby certify that the lowest responsible bidder for the above Goodwin Electric $14,300.00 project is E & M Star Painting, Inc. I respectfully recommend Tunney Electric $20,287.00 that your Honorable Body order the work, the cost thereof to be Frey Electric Construction $21,250.00 charged to our Capital Project Account #201-401-002 at a base I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct bid of $123,231.80 plus approved unit prices not to exceed statement of all bids received and that the following firms are $12,323.18 as per Item #126 C.C.P. 3/3/98 for a total the lowest responsible bidders in accordance with the plans encumbrance of $135,554.98. The engineer's estimate for the and specifications: work is $115,000.00. Be advised that original permission to Mechanical Work - D. V. Brown & Associates, $4,790.00 advertise, bid and award this project (Item #30, CCP 4/14/98) Electrical Work - Metro Electrical, $11,500.00 identified account #200-401-507 which has been changed to I recommend that Your Honorable Body authorize the 201-401-002. Commissioner of Public Works to order the work on the basis The attached is certified to be a true and correct statement of the two (2) lowest bids received. Under provisions of the General Construction, Ferraina Construction Co., Inc., C General Municipal Law any of the bidders may withdraw his bid #91903200. if an award of the contract is not made by June 13, 1998. 1. Relocate door 102A and crosswall per direction of Individual bid submissions are available in our office for Police Department. Add $ 340.00 inspection and copies are available upon request. 2. Alteration in Room 102 per direction of Police Mrs. LoTempio moved: Department. Add $ 555.00 That the above communication from the The foregoing change results in a net increase in the contract Commissioner of Public Works dated June 4, 1998, be of Eight Hundred Ninety Five and 00/100 Dollars ($895.00). received and filed; and Summary: Original Amount of Contract $ 79,000.00 That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he Amount of This Change (No. 1) Add $895.00 hereby is authorized to award a contract for Painting of Light Revised Amount of Contract $ 79,895.00 Standards 1998/1999 Group #478, to E & M Star Painting, These changes could not be foreseen at the time contract was Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, at a base bid of let. Costs have been reviewed by the Consulting Architect (E I $123,231.80 plus approved unit prices not to exceed Team, LLC and the Department of Public Works and found to $12,323.18 as per Item No. 126, C.C.P., 3/3/98 for a total be fair and equitable. Funds for this work are available in CPF encumbrance in the amount of $135,554.98. Funds for this 100-201-085-00-91 0 - Department of Police. project are available in the Capital Project Account #201-401-I request that Your Honorable Body authorize the 002. Commissioner of Public Works to issue a change order to the PASSED. contractor as set forth above. AYES-11. NOES-0. Mrs. LoTempio moved: That the above communication from the NO.27 Commissioner of Public Works dated June 3, 1998, be REPORTOFBIDS received and filed; and NEWDOORS,FRAMES&HARDWARE That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he VARIOUSLIBRARIES hereby is authorized to issue change order No. 1, to Ferraina I advertised for on April 21, 1998 and received the following Construction Co., Inc., an increase in the amount of $895.00, sealed proposals for New Doors, Frames & Hardware, Various as more fully described in the above communication, for work Libraries, which were publicly opened and read on relating to Police Headquarters Renovations, 1st and 4th Floor May 5, 1998. Area, General Construction, C #91903200. Funds for this Summit Construction $106,800.00 project are available in CPF 100-201-085-00-910 - Department Deronde Products No Bid of Police. Forest Materials No Bid PASSED. Infinity Window Systems No Bid Marcon Erectors No Bid AYES-11. NOES-0. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct statement of all bids received and that Summit Construction, in NO.30 the amount of One Hundred Six Thousand Eight Hundred and DIFFERENCEINPAY 00/100 Dollars ($106,800.00), is the lowest responsible bidder MICHAELJ.WOLASZ,JR. in accordance with the plans and specifications: PAYOWED I recommend that Your Honorable Body authorize the On Tuesday, May 26, 1998, the Department of Public Works Commissioner of Public Works to order the work on the basis failed to file a Certificate of Appointment for Mr. Michael J. of the low bid. Funds for this work will be available in CPF 203-Wolasz, Jr., for the title of Marina Dock Attendant (Seasonal). 402 Account - Division of Buildings. This error was corrected on Monday, June 1, 1998, with the Total estimate for this work was $120,000.0G. filing of that certificate. Mrs. LoTempio moved: As a result, the City of Buffalo owes Mr. Wolasz for the time he That the above communication from the worked between the days of May 26, 1998 and May 30, 1998, Commissioner of Public Works dated May 21, 1998, be in accordance with the following assigned schedule. received and filed; and Tuesday, May 26, 1998 8 hr. 10.00 hr. $80.00 That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he Wednesday, May 27,1998 8 hr. 10.00 hr. $80.00 hereby is authorized to award a contract for New Doors, Thursday, May 28, 1998 8 hr. 10.00 hr. $80.00 Frames & Hardware, Various Libraries to Summit Construction, Friday, May 29, 1998 8 hr. 10.00 hr. $80.00 the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $106,800.00, Saturday, May 30, 1998 8 hr. 10.00 hr. $80.00 with said cost to be charged to CPF 203-402 Account - I therefore request that Mr. Wolasz be paid the sum of Division of Buildings. $400.00. PASSED. Mrs. LoTempio moved: AYES-11. NOES-0. That the above communication from the Commissioner of Public Works dated June 1, 1998, be NO.28 received and filed; and PERMISSIONTORECEIVEBIDS That the Comptroller be, and he hereby is authorized ONTARIOSTREET-CURBANDSIDEWALKS-PHASEI to pay Michael J. Wolasz, Jr., Marina Dock Attendant SKILLENSTREETTOBEATRICEAVENUE (Seasonal), in the Department of Public Works the amount of Permission is requested from your Honorable Body for the $400.00 for days worked between the days of May 26, 1998 Department of Public Works to advertise, receive bids and and May 30, 1998. contract for the replacement of curbs and sidewalks on Ontario PASSED. Street. It is anticipated that the first phase of this project from AYES-11. NOES-0. Skillen Street to Beatrice Avenue will be bid later this summer and construction will be complete by the end of the 1998 NO.31 season. INSTALLATIONOFHERTELAVENUESIGNAGE The engineer's estimate for this work is $185,000.00 and funds ITEMNO.163;C.C.P.05/12/98 are available in Capital Project Account #201-401-002. This is in response to Item No. 163 of May 12, 1998 which Mrs. LoTempio moved: granted permission to the Hertel North Buffalo Business That the above communication from the Association to erect signage on Hertel Avenue. Please be Commissioner of Public Works dated June 2, 1998, be advised that the Department of Public Works - Traffic Section received and filed; and has reviewed this item. That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he As the signs listed are to be installed on City light standards, in hereby is authorized to advertise, receive bids and contract for the interest of limiting liability, City sign crews will do the actual replacement of curbs and sidewalks on Ontario Street. Funds installations. The Hertel North Buffalo Business Association for this project are available in Capital Project Account #201-should have the signs made and inform the Traffic Office when 401-002. they are ready for installation. At this point, a City sign crew will PASSED. be assigned to install these signs. AYES-11. NOES-0. RECEIVED AND FILED. NO.29 NO.32 CHANGEINCONTRACT LEASEAGREEMENTFORALLEYWAYTHEATER,INC. POLICEHEADQUARTERSRENOVATIONS Attached is the proposed lease agreement, which was 1STAND4THFLOORAREA-GENERALCONSTRUCTION prepared by Corporation Counsel, between the City of Buffalo I hereby submit to Your Honorable Body the following changes and Alleyway Theater, Inc. for a 25 year lease of the current for Police Headquarters Renovations, 1st and 4th Floor Area, theater located at 672 Main Street. This lease is for a term of 25 years at $1 .00 per year. Alleyway Theater, Inc. will be economical way to screen services rather than installing filters allowed to occupy the entire building once the City of Buffalo which must be changed and maintained on a regular basis. Police Department vacates that portion of the building that they REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. are currently occupying. Conditions of this lease require Alleyway Theater, Inc. to be responsible for all utilities, all NO.35 maintenance and all capital repairs to the facilities. 484ELMWOODAVENUE; I respectfully request Your Honorable Body to authorize the REQUESTSPERMISSIONTOINSTALLSIDEWALKCAFE Mayor to enter into this agreement. Mr. Omprakash Sabharwal, owner of Tandori Express Mrs. LoTempio moved: Restaurant, located at 484 Elmwood Avenue, has requested That the above communication from the Comptroller permission to install a sidewalk cafe which would encroach City dated June 4, 1998, be received and filed; and right-of-way at said address. That the Mayor be, and he hereby is authorized to enter into a The proposed cafe would measure seven feet (7’) in length lease between the City and Alleyway Theater, Inc., for lease of and project six feet (6’) from the building face into City right-of- 672 Main Street for a twenty-five (25) year term at One Dollar way. ($1.00) per year. Alleyway Theater, lnc. will be responsible for The Department of Public Works has reviewed Mr. alI utilities, all maintenance and all capital repairs to the Sabharwal's application pursuant to Chapter 413, Section 59 facilities. (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances and has no objection PASSED. to Your Honorable Body authorizing the Commissioner of AYES-11. NOES-0. Public Works to issue a "Mere License" for said sidewalk cafe provided the following conditions are met: NO.33 1. That the applicant obtain any and all other City of NEWYORKSTATEENVIRONMENTALBOND Buffalo permits necessary. STATEASSISTANCEAPPLICATIONRESOLUTION 2. That the sidewalk cafe be installed exactly as SCAJAQUADACREEKDREDGINGPROJECT shown on plans submitted to and approved by the Department The purpose of this Item is to request a resolution from of Public Works, Division of Buildings. your Honorable Body authorizing the submission of an 3. That the sidewalk cafe does not exceed seven feet application for State assistance related to park development (7’) in length or extend more than six feet (61) from the building and landfill closure pursuant to Title 5 of Article 54 of the New face. York State Environmental Conservation Law. 4. That no portion of the sidewalk cafe be permanent in WHEREAS, City of Buffalo, herein called the nature or permanently affixed to the main building or public "Municipality", has hereby determined that certain work, as sidewalk. described in the State assistance application and any 5. That the sidewalk cafe be completely removed from amendments thereof, herein called the "Project", is desirable City right-of-way from November 15 to April 1 each year. and in the public interest; and 6. That the applicant be assessed the annual fee of two WHEREAS, Title 5 of Article 54 of the Environmental dollars per square foot of City right-of-way occupied by said Conservation Law authorized State assistance payments to sidewalk cafe as described in Chapter 413, Article IX, Section municipalities for development of parks and closure of 59 (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances. municipal landfills by means of a written agreement and the 7. That the applicant supply the City of Buffalo with a Municipality deems it to be in the public interest and benefit five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) construction in street bond or under this law to apply therewith; certificate of insurance which will indemnify and save harmless NOW, THEREFORE, The Department of Public Works the City of Buffalo against any and all loss and damage arising requests your Honorable Body approve an appropriate out of the construction, maintenance, use and removal of said resolution as follows: sidewalk cafe. 1 . That the Commissioner of Public Works is directed and REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND authorized as the official representative to act in CITY PLANNING BOARD- connection with any applications, related agreements, contracts, etc., between the Municipality and the State, NO.36 and to provide such additional information as may be 1519HERTELAVENUE; required; REQUESTSPERMISSIONTOINSTALLSIDEWALKCAFE 2. That one (1) certified copy of this Resolution be prepared Mr. Phil Alagna, owner of M. T. Pockets Bar and Restaurant, and sent to the Regional Grant's Officer of the New York located at 1519 Hertel Avenue, has requested permission to State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic install a sidewalk cafe which would encroach City right-of-way Preservation in Niagara Falls, New York; at said address. 3. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately The proposed cafe measures fifteen feet (15’) in length and authorizing the Commissioner to act as the official projects twelve feet (12’) from the building face into City right- representative in all matters related to this grant of-way. application and related documents. The Department of Public Works has reviewed Mr. Alagnals Mrs. LoTempio moved: application pursuant to Chapter 413, Section 59 (Sidewalk That the above communication from the Department Cafes) of the City Ordinances and has no objection to Your of Public Works dated June 2, 1998, be received and filed; and Honorable Body authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he to issue a "Mere License" for said sidewalk cafe provided the hereby is authorized to submit an application, related following conditions are met: agreements, contracts, etc. for State assistance related to park 1. That the applicant obtain any and all other City of development and landfill closure pursuant to Title 5 of Article Buffalo permits necessary. 54 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. 2. That the sidewalk cafe be installed exactly as shown That one (1) certified copy of this Resolution be prepared and on plans submitted to and approved by the Department of sent to the Regional Grant's Officer of the New York State Public Works, Division of Buildings. Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 3. That the sidewalk cafe does not exceed fifteen feet Niagara Falls and that this Resolution shall take effect (15’) in length or extend more than twelve feet (12’) from the immediately authorizing the Commissioner to act as the official building face. representative in all matters related to this grant application and 4. That no portion of the sidewalk cafe be permanent in related documents. nature or permanently affixed to the main building or public PASSED. sidewalk. AYES-11. NOES-0. 5. That the sidewalk cafe be completely removed from City right-of-way from November 15 to April 1 each year. NO.34 6. That the applicant be assessed the annual fee of two REQUESTCITYTOINSTALLWATERFILTERS dollars per square foot of City right-of-way occupied by said WITHMETERS sidewalk cafe as described in Chapter 413, Article IX, Section ITEMNO.81,C.C.P.5/12/98 59 (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances. The referenced item was a petition from various residents of 7. That the applicant supply the City of Buffalo with a the City of Buffalo requesting that we install filters along with five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) construction in street bond or the water meters which we will be installing over the next certificate of insurance which will indemnify and save harmless several years. Please be advised that the water meters and the City of Buffalo against any and all loss and damage arising associated hardware that we will be installing does contain a out of the construction, maintenance, use and removal of said screen that will filter out any noticeable sediment. sidewalk cafe. I believe that this will satisfy some of the concerns regarding REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND particles found in water services. This is a far more safer and CITY PLANNING BOARD. PERMISSIONTOEXECUTEAGREEMENTS NO.37 I hereby request permission from Your Honorable Body to 285PARKSIDEAVENUE,- execute all necessary agreements with the New York State REQUESTSPERMISSIONTOINSTALLSIDEWALKCAFE Department of Transportation for the following project: Mr. John Augustine, owner of Parkside Restaurant & Pizza, Replacement of existing traffic signals and controllers at located at 285 Parkside Avenue has requested permission to various intersections along Franklin Street and Linwood Avenue install a sidewalk cafe which would encroach City right-of-way between Virginia Street and West Delavan Avenue. at said address. The project will be funded using Federal Congestion/Mitigation The proposed cafe would measure ten feet (10’) in length and and Air Quality (CMAQ) Funds with the Federal Share being project six feet (6’) from the building face into City right-of-way. 80% and the local share being 20%. The estimated cost of this The Department of Public Works has reviewed Mr. Augustine's project is $600,000.00 and the City's share would be application pursuant to Chapter 413, Section 59 (Sidewalk $120,000.00. Cafes) of the City Ordinances and has no objection to Your Funds for the local match are available in Bond Fund Account Honorable Body authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works No. 200-401-027-00-000. to issue a "Mere License" for said sidewalk cafe provided the Mrs. LoTempio moved: following conditions are met: That the above communication from the Department 1. That the applicant obtain any and all other City of of Public Works dated May 26, 1998, be received and filed; Buffalo permits necessary. and 2. That the sidewalk cafe be installed exactly as shown That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he on plans submitted to and approved by the Department of hereby is authorized to execute all necessary agreements with Public Works, Division of Buildings. the New York State Department of Transportation for the 3. That the sidewalk cafe does not exceed ten feet (10’) Replacement of existing traffic signals and controllers at in length or extend more than six feet (61) from the building various intersections along Franklin Street and Linwood Avenue face. between Virginia Street and West Delavan Avenue. Funds for 4. That no portion of the sidewalk cafe be permanent in the local match are available in Bond Fund Account No. 200- nature or permanently affixed to the main building or public 401-027-00-000. sidewalk. PASSED. 5. That the sidewalk cafe be completely removed from AYES-11. NOES-0. City right-of-way from November 15 to April 1 each year. 6. That the applicant be assessed the annual fee of two NO.40 dollars per square foot of City right-of-way occupied by said CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT sidewalk cafe as described in Chapter 413, Article IX, Section Appointment Effective: May 26, 1998 in the Department of 59 (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances. Public Works Division of Water to the Position of Caulker 7. That the applicant supply the City of Buffalo with a Supervisor I, Permanent Promotion at the Starting Salary of: five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) construction in street bond or $30,901.00 certificate of insurance which will indemnify and save harmless Salvatore Abbate, Jr., 74 Gunnell, Buffalo, New York 14216 the City of Buffalo against any and all loss and damage arising REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE out of the construction, maintenance, use and removal of said sidewalk cafe. NO.41 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT CITY PLANNING BOARD. Appointment Effective May 26. 1998 in the Department of Public Works Division of Water to the Position of Caulker NO.38 Supervisor I, Temporary, Promotion, at the Intermediate 1125TONAWANDASTREET; Starting Salary of $30,901.00. REQUESTSPERMISSIONTOINSTALLSIDEWALKCAFE Raymond Canfield, 55 Northrup Place, Buffalo, New York Ms. Emelia Magyarics, owner of Millie's Restaurant, located at REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE 1125 Tonawanda Street, has requested permission to install a sidewalk cafe which would encroach City right-of-way at said NO.42 address. CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT The proposed cafe would measure twenty-eight feet (28’) in Appointment Effective May 22, 1998 in the Department of length and project six feet (6’) from the building face into City Public Works, Division of Engineering, to the position of Junior right-of-way. Engineer, Permanent Appointment at the Intermediate The Department of Public Works has reviewed Ms. Magyarics, Starting Salary of $32,481 application pursuant to Chapter 413, Section 59 (Sidewalk Steven J. Stepniak, 429 Norwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222 Cafes) of the City Ordinances and has no objection to Your REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE Honorable Body authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to issue a "Mere License" for said sidewalk cafe provided the NO.43 following conditions are met: CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT 1. That the applicant obtain any and all other City of Appointment Effective May 22, 1998 in the Department of Buffalo permits necessary. Public Works, Division of Engineering to the Position of Junior 2. That the sidewalk cafe be installed exactly as shown Engineer, Permanent, Promotion at the Intermediate Starting on plans submitted to and approved by the Department of Salary of $32,481 Public Works, Division of Buildings. Joseph J. Poltorak, 106 Delsan Court, Buffalo, NY 14216 3. That the sidewalk cafe does not exceed twenty-eight REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE feet (28’) in length or extend more than six feet (6’) from the building face. NO.44 4. That no portion of the sidewalk cafe be permanent in CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT nature or permanently affixed to the main building or public Appointment Effective May 21, 1998 in the Department of sidewalk. Public Works, Division of Buildings to the Position of Laborer I, 5. That the sidewalk cafe be completely removed from Permanent, Non-Competitive at the Intermediate Starting City right-of-way from November 15 to April 1 each year. Salary of $9.88 6. That the applicant be assessed the annual fee of two Ann M. DiStefano, 93 Gelston Street, Buffalo 14213 dollars per square foot of City right-of-way occupied by said REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE sidewalk cafe as described in Chapter 413, Article IX, Section 59 (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances. NO.45 7. That the applicant supply the City of Buffalo with a CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) construction in street bond or Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of certificate of insurance which will indemnify and save harmless Public Works, Division of Water to the Position of Maintenance the City of Buffalo against any and all loss and damage arising Assistant-Water, Provisional Appointment at the Intermediate out of the construction, maintenance, use and removal of said Starting Salary of $27,212 sidewalk cafe. Thomas J. Cegielski, 85 Keystone Avenue, Buffalo, 14211 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE CITY PLANNING BOARD. NO.46 NO.39 REQUESTTOUSEERIEBASINMARINA TRAFFICSIGNALSYSTEM The Dr. Schoirs Mobile Foot Care Tour has requested FRANKLINSTREET/LINWOODAVENUEPROJECT permission to use an area approximately 30 feet x 22 feet at the Erie Basin Marina. Their intention is to promote their products REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET to individuals in the Buffalo area. They will be providing various NO.50 information on foot maintenance. They will also be distributing MUNICIPALIZATIONANDPOWERCHOICE sample products and performing foot massages free of charge. ITEMNO.178,C.C.P.,5/26/98 They are requesting use of the Marina on Monday, June 22, You requested the Law Department to advise the Common 1998. Council on the necessary steps to achieve the goal of Mrs. LoTempio moved: muncipalization and prepare a question to be submitted to the That the above communication from the electorate on the issue of muncipalizing the electric utility of the Commissioner of Public Works dated June 8, 1998, be City of Buffalo. At present, we are still examining whether the received and filed; and City may conduct an advisory referendum on municipalization That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he and will provide further counsel on the subject shortly. hereby is authorized to grant permission to the Dr. Scholl's INTRODUCTION Mobile Foot Care Tour to use an area approximately 30 feet x The electric utility industry, currently undergoing deregulation 22 feet at the Erie Basin Marina on June 22, 1998. by both federal and state lawmakers, is a prospect for PASSED. municipalization locally by the City of Buffalo ("City"). The idea AYES-BROWN, COPPOLA, FONTANA, FRANCZYK, GRAY, is being proposed due to the fact a municipal utility is entitled to KAVANAUGH, LOTEMPIO, MANLEY, PITTS, QUINTANA-purchase power from New York State Power Authority 10. ("NYPN') and cut rates for residents and businesses -- NOES-ZUCHLEWSKI-1. possibly in half, N.Y. GEN. MUN. LAW art. 14-A § 360 (2) (McKinney 1986). NYPA supplies virtually all the power used FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFPOLICE by the existing municipal electric utilities in the State of New York. Most of NYPA's power is hydroelectric power generated NO.47 at the NYPA's Niagara Project and sold at a cost of about one CHECKSRECEIVED cent per kilowatt hour. Under the Niagara Redevelopment Act, ITEMNO.104,C.C.P.2/2/88 this "Preference Power" is preferentially allocated to "public 8155-00107678 C2-97-0104 $ 577.80 bodies” such as municipal systems and is currently fully 8155-00107677 C2-98-0035 1,713.60 allocated by contract. Additional allocations may not be TOTAL DEPOSIT $2,291.40 available for at least ten years, but, considering it took the Town The above referenced property has been administratively of Massena seven years to begin operating their municipal forfeited by the Drug Enforcement Administration. (DEA). The utility, a ten year wait should not prevent the Common Council checks were received by this Department and duly deposited in from considering the matter, the Trust & Agency Account, #610-200-217-00-300. This report will review the process of municipalization and RECEIVED AND FILED issues to be considered in light of deregulation. Municipalization means the City would provide electric utility FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFFIRE services. The Common Council for the City of Buffalo ("Common Council"), as the legislative body for the City, is NO.48 authorized to act on behalf of the City in establishing a CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT municipal public electric utility. Therefore, the report will Appointment Effective june 8, 1998 in the department of fire discuss the actions of the "Common Council" as opposed to Division of Communications to the position of radio supervisor, the "City". In theory, the Common Council could build its own permanent, appointment, at the intermediate Starting salary of generation and distribution system. However, the cost of doing : $35,416 so would be prohibitive. Therefore, this report is based on the Robert Andrycha, 75 Bame Street Buffalo, 14215 assumption the Common Council will condemn the property of REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE the City's current electric provider, Niagara Mohawk. In considering municipalization, the Common Council must FROMTHECORPORATIONCOUNSEL keep apprised of the status and possible results of proposed legislation and federal and state agency rulings regarding NO.49 deregulation of the electric utility which may impact the ALLOWRESIDENTSTOCONTRACTWITH prospect of municipalization. Congress is currently reviewing PRIVATEFIRMSFORGARBAGECOLLECTION proposed legislation, and both the Federal Energy Regulatory ITEMNO.202,C.C.P,,5/26/98 Commission ("FERC") as well as the state Public Service You again requested (C.C.P, 11/26/96, No. 244) a response Commission ("PSC") have issued rulings setting a preliminary from the Law Department regarding the legality of allowing time line and standards for deregulation. residential users of the City's solid waste collection services to Deregulation involves introducing competition to a utility contract with private haulers. C.C.P., 2/18/97, No. 44.) Under industry and forcing corporations such as Niagara Mohawk to the City's present system, no persons except City employees or release their stronghold on industrial and commercial City contractors are authorized to collect residential solid waste businesses and residents. Naturally, Niagara Mohawk, and and the Charter prohibits private solid waste collectors from other corporations with like monopolies, are reluctant to give up collecting residential waste unless authorized by the such a powerful stance anytime soon. Therefore, it is up to Commissioner of Street Sanitation. Charter § 294;,Vee Code § federal and state lawmakers, as well as agencies such as the 216-16. To change this system to allow residential users to FERC and the PSC, to wean these corporations of their power contract with private haulers, several factors must be and encourage competition. considered. An introduction to the inner-relationships as well as some of The Enterprise Fund for Refuse and Recycling is directly the terminology involved in deregulation is necessary to attain a based on the City's fixed and variable costs of providing solid basic understanding of it. The electric utility industry accrues waste collection services to the users of the system. If every costs for three basic functions: generation, transmission and residential property owner were allowed to contract with a distribution. Generation costs depend on the capital cost of private hauler, the user fee would be spread among a smaller generation facilities, operations, maintenance and related fuel. base of residential properties, increasing the fee to the Transmission costs are those associated with the nationwide remaining City users. Certain costs, such as labor and wholesale movement of bulk electricity: steel towers, equipment, would remain fixed regardless of the number of transformers and wire. And distribution costs involve the local properties serviced by the City. SeeC.C.P., 12/10/96, No. 40. movement of electricity to end-users: wooden poles, The user fee may also increase for additional administrative transformers, wires, and meters. Transmission and and disposal costs not currently incurred under the present distribution will remain regulated monopolies and will not be system. By allowing residents to contract with private haulers, opened to competition, i.e. common carriers in the public the City would have to assume the task of monitoring among domain, and regulated cost-of-use fee schedules will be tens of thousands of residential properties who has a current developed to ensure the free flow of commerce. Therefore, private contract and who is being serviced by the City. The only the generation element will be deregulated and open to City as the disposer of last resort (under its obligations to competition. protect the public health and welfare, N.Y. Gen. City Law § The PSC will permit a transition period to free market 20(13); Charter § 33(14)) may also incur the costs of cleaning conditions. Over that period, rate-payers will continue to be up illegal dumping which may result from those property charged for some portion of underperforming assets or owners claiming to be under private contract but, in fact, are stranded costs. Since the bulk of these stranded utility assets not (for example, those making fraudulent claims or those who reside in the generation of electricity, the heart of lower costs defaulted under their contracts and the private haulers ceased resides in generation. The goal of deregulation is to lower collection). These additional administrative and disposal costs those-, costs without destroying the network that permits would have to be factored into the user fee. competition. Strand[ed] ... costs are those costs incurred by utilities that is the enactment of local legislation. N.Y. GEN, MUN, LAW may become unrecoverable during the transition from art. 14-A § 360 (4) (McKinney 1986). The local law must be regulation to a competitive market for electricity. 96-12 Op. submitted to referendum for the approval of the electors PSC 46 (1996). They are costs a wholesale supplier of following the required notice period. Id at § 360 (5). This electricity incurs in anticipation of serving a customer which "...mandatory referendum requirement ... [is] applicable ... later become unrecoverable, or stranded, because the where the municipality ... [is] effecting a complete takeover of customer stops purchasing power from that supplier, and the the public utility system." 77-436 Op. State Compt 95 (1977). supplier cannot recover those costs by selling the power The referendum must be submitted at ... a special election held elsewhere. See FERC Order No. 888, 61 Fed. Reg. at in ... [the City of Buffalo] not less than sixty days after the 21,628; Cajun Elec. Power Coop. v. F.E.R.C., 307 U.S. App. adoption of the local law." N.Y. MUN. HOME RULE LAW art. D.C. 306, 28 F.3d 173, 175 (D.C. Cir. 1994) (defining 2 § 23(1) (McKinney 1994). The local law must include the "stranded costs" as "costs [a transmitting utility] incurs due to proposed method of acquiring, leasing, or purchasing the plant any surplus in generation (or other) facilities resulting from the and facilities, the maximum and estimated costs thereof and introduction of open access to its transmission services"). the method of furnishing the service. N.Y. GEN. MUN. LAW When a utility spends money to build power generation or art. 14-A § 360 (3). transmission facilities it plans to use to serve the needs of a The New York Court of Appeals has held that "flexibility in particular customer, and that customer takes its business implementation of a section 360 project is ... necessary ... elsewhere, the utility is suddenly left with more facilities than it [s]ince a project once implemented may be altered freely needs to serve its remaining customers. Unless it can find a without referendum submission." Town of Massena v. Niagara new customer to serve with its excess facilities, the money Mohawk Power Corp., 45 N.Y.2d 482, 490; 410 N.Y.S.2d 276, spent on acquiring the new facilities will be "stranded." The 280 (1978). In that case, the Town of Massena instituted a emergence of stranded costs is, in part, the product of a shift in condemnation proceeding pursuant to a resolution and utility rate philosophy from a rate design based on "cost plus referendum authorizing it to own and operate electrical power rate of return" to a market-driven. rate. facilities. Id. In its referendum, the Town proposed to construct Deregulation, under which all wires will become common such facilities, and, after the referendum was passed, the carriers, will permit retail wheeling i.e., the transfer of electric Town abandoned the idea of construction in favor of the energy from any generator directly to any end user. Wheeling is condemnation of existing Niagara Mohawk facilities. Id. The a term used to describe the procedure by which the owner of Court, in that case, also held the Town was entitled to use one transmission lines transmits electricity produced by another figure in the proposal for both the maxiniurn and estimated party for a specified charge. Retail wheeling would enable the costs. Id. customers of Niagara Mohawk to choose other generators of Although the Town, in that case, won, it is recommended that electricity which will compete for customers and thereby lower the Common Council decide whether it will be condemning the rates. property owned by Niagara Mohawk before holding a This report will begin by informing the reader about the referendum in order to avoid a similar lawsuit brought by procedures to be followed in municipalization, including; laying Niagara Mohawk. Further, the referendum must include the out the steps to be taken for the passage of a local law to proposed method and maximum and estimated costs of authorize the Common Council to create a public utility, purchasing the property, as well as details regarding the proposing a method by which such a utility may be financed, service to be provided. Therefore, as a first step, the Common reviewing the procedure by which Niagara Mohawk property Council should issue a request for proposals for the may be condemned and outlining some basic operating preparation of a feasibility study for a municipal power system. concerns. Next, the reader will learn about agency rulings and On the other hand, the Common Council could also first seek proposed legislation, at both the federal and state levels, state enabling legislation to establish a municipal utility, an regarding deregulation and their effects on municipalization. authority, as a vehicle for exploring the options available to the And finally, an overview of PowerChoice, Niagara Mohawk's city as potential costs and benefits are clarified. See "Common proposed restructuring which alleges to introduce competition Council's Options" below. and a brief case study which will allow the reader to understand FEASIBILITYSTUDY why the idea of municipalization is being introduced in a time The feasibility study would examine the potential savings, when local governments are leaning toward privatization. costs and risks a municipal utility would entail. The study LOCALLAW should also address concerns raised by members of the A local law is necessary to authorize the Common Council to Common Council and assist the Common Council in assessing establish a public electric utility and requires a well laid plan to whether a municipal electric utility is a real possibility for the be introduced to the voters. But before beginning the City. The study may develop alternatives available to the procedure to pass a local law, the Common Council must Common Council, mentioned in the section below entitled "The determine the answers to several questions regarding its Common Council's Options." franchise agreement with Niagara Mohawk. For example, The savings produced by lower rates offered by a municipal whether, under the terms of the agreement, the Common Coelectric utility, both to residential and commercial customers uncil may unilaterally terminate the franchise agreement, or and to the City itself, should be compared to ithe rates charged whether the franchise of perpetual duration? A franchise that by Niagara Mohawk. This would include applying an estimate doesn't set forth a particular time limit is of perpetual duration of power supply costs and peak demand and energy and cannot be revoked by a subsequent legislative act. NY requirements to projected power supply resource prices and Central & Hudson River R.R. v. City of New York, 202 N.Y. 212 transmission service rates. (191 1). A franchise of perpetual duration may only be revoked The costs of acquiring the property owned by Niagara through a condemnation procedure including the payment of Mohawk and the cost of duplicating the electrical system in the just compensation. Matter of City of New York, 304 N.Y. 215 City need to be assessed. See "Condemnation" below. The (1952). issue of costs also includes operating costs including the cost To determine whether the Niagara Mohawk franchise is of of operation & maintenance, depending on the number of perpetual duration, the Common Council can look to the history facilities and staff members, billing, accounting and of the first electric franchise granted to Niagara Mohawk's administrative costs, the cost of debt service on tax exempt predecessor in Buffalo, Buffalo General Electric, and follow municipal bonds, and any necessary general and capital agreements made or renegotiated with its successors up to the improvements. The best price for wholesale power charged by one with Niagara Mohawk. There are two arguments the NYPA and both instate and out-of-state privately owned supporting a conclusion the franchise is not of perpetual utilities, independent power producers and power marketers duration: 1) no franchise shall be granted or operated longer should be determined. The prices for the municipal utility to than fifty years. N.Y. GEN. CITY LAW art. § 2-A 23(2)(b) provide transmission service should be compared with the (McKinney 1989); and 2) Niagara Mohawk's franchise may open access tariff. The open access tariff will charged by stipulate rates, and, since those rates have changed, the Niagara Mohawk, owner of the transmission lines, when it franchise may no longer be valid. However, because rates are transmits electricity produced by another party, such as the regulated by the PSC, and the regulation doesn't revoke the municipal utility, for a specified charge. franchise, a change in rates most likely does not revoke the Possible risks of establishing a municipal utility may include franchise. PSC v. Pavilion Natural Gas Co., 232 N.Y. 146 deregulation due to the introduction of competition. The (1921); People v. Village of S. Glens Falls, 225 N.Y. 216 municipal utility would probably offer the lowest rates due to its (1919). ability to purchase power from the New York Power Authority, Once it is determined the Common Council may establish a but the Common Council must factor the possibility of covering municipal electric utility, Article 14-A of the General Municipal Niagara Mohawk's stranded costs into their rates. Stranded Law ("GMV') authorizes municipalities to create a public costs, in this case, would involve the costs incurred by Niagara electric utility and acquire utility facilities. Section 360 of the Mohawk resulting from surplus in generation facilities when the GML provides that the first step for creating a municipal utility municipal utility takes over and Niagara Mohawk loses its customers in the City. These costs may be recovered by other property..." Id. at § 1029(2). Therefore, the legislation Niagara Mohawk in a number of ways including the establishing the Authority should grant to it the power to condemnation offer or trial or by charging the municipal utility a acquire all or any part of Niagara Mohawk. fee, depending on PSC rulings. The Common Council may be 1.WRITTENFINDINGS able to connect the generating and distribution system currently After a public hearing is held, the Common Council will have owned by Niagara Mohawk to NYPA’s or Ontario Hydro's ninety days to make written findings, including: the public use transmission system in order to purchase power at cheaper to be served by the project, the approximate location for the rate and minimize the risk of stranded cost recovery. project and reasons for that location, and other relevant factors. Therefore, whether the Common Council decides to first do a N.Y. EM. DOM. PROC. LAW art. 2 § 204(B) (Consol. feasibility study to gather more information to present to the 1997). The Common Council would then have to comply with voters in a referendum, or whether a referendum is held to first the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act establish the municipal utility before the study is done, the point ("SEQRN'). Id. at § 207(C)(3). Under SEQRA, the Common is that there are many questions which need to be answered by Council would have to complete a full environmental qualified experts before the Common Council should proceed. assessment form and, either issue a negative declaration -- It must be noted, perhaps repeatedly, that it took the Town of that the municipalization does not adversely affect the Massena seven years before it began operating such a utility. environment, or file an environmental impact statement with the FINANCING New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Common Council's options for financing the cost of The Common Council may combine the SEQRA public hearing creating the municipal utility include: 1) issuing debt, and 2) requirement with the EDPL public hearing requirement. Matter seeking state legislation establishing a public authority or public of Acquisition of Real Propeqy by County of Eulton, 136 A.D.2d benefit corporation. Section 11.00(a)(5) of the Local Finance 115 (App. Div. 3d Dept 1988). Law provides that a municipality may issue up to thirty-year 2.DETERMININGTHEVALUEOFNIAGARAMOHAWK'S bonds for the acquisition of electric power systems. N.Y. LOC. ASSETS FIN. LAW art. 2, title I § 11.00(a)(5) (McKinney 1968). Under the EDPL, the Common Council must "...make every However, the City is already close to its debt limit, and the reasonable and expeditious effort to justly compensate ... Common Council is always hesitant to issue debt, as are most [Niagara Mohawk] by negotiation and agreement." N.Y. EM. legislative bodies. Therefore, the second option, seeking state DOM. PROC. LAW art. 3 § 301. The Common Council must legislation establishing a Buffalo Power Authority ("Authority"), have the property appraised prior to condemnation. Id. at § is more desirable. The Authority, a publicly-owned tax-exempt 302. The Common Council is required to make an offer to entity, would be established to provide a dependable and Niagara Mohawk for one hundred percent of the appraised affordable source of electricity for residents, businesses, value. Niagara Mohawk can either accept, reject or consider industries and institutions located within the City. Other such the offer as an advance payment. At the time the Common public authorities have been established in Long Island, Albany Council makes the offer, the Common Council should be fully and Green Island. prepared to acquire Niagara Mohawk's distribution system. The Authority may be able issue tax-exempt electric system Because the Common Council would be committed to the bonds, which would not be considered obligations of the City purchase once it exercises its powers of eminent domain and because they would be payable out of revenues ofthe Authority. title passes, the appraisal report should address the worst case However, on November 8, 1997, Senator Murkowski scenario, with an eye toward future litigation. "... [T]he introduced a bill, S. 1483, to amend the Internal Revenue Code standard of compensation in utility condemnation is an to require municipally-owned utilities which participate in an extremely vague one..." Onondaga CouM Water Auth. v. New 'Copen access plan" to forego tax-exempt financing. An open York Water Sery. Corp, 285 A.D. 655, 661 (App. Div. 4th access plan is defined as a plan by a State to allow more than Dept. 1955). one electric energy provider to offer such energy in a state- There are several different methods of valuing utility property: authorized competitive market. The PSC has issued Opinion (a) reproduction cost new less depreciation, (b) income 96-12, which encourages utilities to facilitate the development capitalization, (c) original cost, (d) severance damages, and (e) of a competitive market place and creates an open access consequential damages: plan. If this bill were to become law, a municipally-owned a.)The reproduction cost new less depreciation is the method electric utility in New York State would be forced to forego tax-by which Niagara Mohawk's real property is assessed by the exempt financing due to its participation in an open access Department of Assessment for the City and the formula used plan. The bill was sent to committee last year, and Senator by the Office of Real Property Services of the State of New Murkowski has not answered questions presented to him York in assessing Niagara Mohawk's "special franchise" regarding the bill s possible effects on municipalization. property. See. below. Niagara Mohawk is taxed by both the Therefore, the Common Council should make an attempt to City and State based on these amounts, and they are not likely determine the congressional reaction to the bill and exercise to be disputed. caution with respect to making premature decisions regarding b.) The income capitalization method is "...based on ... [the financing municipalization. property's] expected net yield to the owner, [and] uses as CONDEMNATION evidence of value provable past earnings on a periodic basis, Assuming the Common Council decides to condemn the growth rate in user fees, projected cost increases, new users property and facilities of Niagara Mohawk, articles 2 and 3 of projected and governmental restrictions or regulations capping the Eminent Domain Procedure Law ("EDPL") set forth a three-expansion of earnings." Saratoga Water Services, Inc. v. step process for acquiring property: (1) the Common Council Saratoga Coupty Water Authqdty, 83 N.Y.2d 205, 210 (1994) holds a public hearing and makes the necessary findings; (2) (quoting 5 Nichols Eminent Domain § 19.07[l] (rev. 3d ed.)). the Common Council's appraiser determines the value of the However, the New York State Court of Appeals has found property to be acquired and the Common Council makes an "...earned income imperfectly reflects the actual value of a utility offer to Niagara Mohawk and, assuming the Common whose rates are subject to regulation." Id. Council's offer is not accepted, (3) the Common Council c.) The original cost method is the basis for cost-of-service secures a court order authorizing acquisition. rates, would tend to support a low appraisal and is admissible It is a well settled rule that title would pass to the Common in evidence. However, this method does not "...carry much Council before the condemnation court determined the value of weight in the determination of just compensation." Onondaga, the condemned property, and, once title passed, the Common 285 A.D. at 662. Council could not abandon the property. Saratoga Water d.) Severance damages sometimes allow the utility to recover Services, Inc. v. Saratoga Counly Water Authority, 83 N.Y.2d damages that result from part of its system being taken, and 205 (1994); But see. "Acquisition 'below. Following may allow Niagara Mohawk to recover some portion of its acquisition, assuming the offer is contested as being too low, stranded costs. When a utility spends money to build power the Common Council and Niagara Mohawk must submit generation or transmission facilities it will use to serve the appraisal reports supporting their evaluations to the court for needs of a particular customer, and that customer takes its trial. business elsewhere, the utility is suddenly left with more The legislation establishing the Authority must state with facilities than it needs to serve its remaining customers. particularity the property the Authority is authorized to Unless it can find a new customer to serve with its excess condemn. For example, the Long Island Power Authority is facilities, the money spent on acquiring the new facilities will be empowered to "acquire all or any part" of the stock and assets "stranded." owned by Long Island Lighting Company. N.Y. PUB. AUTH. e.) Consequential damages include the cost to the utility of LAW art. 5 § 1020-h. The Green Island Power Authority is building new facilities. empowered to "...acquire such real estate and other property as The real property, located within the City boundaries, owned may be necessary for its corporate purposes..." Id. at § 1020-c. by Niagara Mohawk is valued by the City at $94, 569, 548.00 The Albany Light, Heat and Power Authority is empowered to based on the replacement cost new less depreciation formula. acquire "...the whole or any part of any existing plant ... or any See. (a) above. However, this number may be reduced to $87, 569, 548.00 after a possible settlement between Niagara Supreme Court, stating the procedural requirements of the Mohawk and the Common Council pursuant to a certiorari EDPL have been met, including the posting of a bond. The proceeding. The "special franchise" property throughout the court is then required to issue an order permitting the Authority State of New York, including steel towers, transformers, to take title to Niagara Mohawk property. N.Y. EDA. DOM. wooden poles, meters and wires which are located on public PROC. LAW art. 4 § 402. rights of way, is valued by the Industrial and Utility Valuation The trial on valuation is next. Under current State law, in the Board of the Office of Real Property Services of the State of absence of a successful negotiation, the Common Council is New York ("State Real Property Office") at $154, 369, 670.00 obliged to acquire the Niagara Mohawk's property before it based on the original cost and the replacement cost new less knows how much it must pay for the property. The Common depreciation formulas. Id. More information regarding the value Council cannot abandon the property once acquired. However, of the special franchise property located in the City onIy may be the New York State Legislature has enacted special legislation obtained by contacting in writing Mr. Don Card, Office of Real to permit a particular municipality to determine the value of Property Services of the State of New York, 16 Sheridan, water utility property before it is acquired. Saratoga Water Albany, New York, 12210, (518-474-1700). Because Niagara Services, Inc. v. Saratoga County Water Auth it , 83 N Y.2d Mohawk has claimed trade secret status on much of this 205(1994). The State Legislature has also permitted the Long property, the State Real Property Office cannot give Island Power Authority to determine the value of the Long individualized valuations. Therefore, the Common Council Island Lighting Company before it was acquired. N.Y. PUB. must request the value of such property "by account" to obtain AUTH. LAW art. 5 § 1020-h(4), (5)(f). individualized special franchise property values and. determine Therefore, because, once it exercises its power of eminent the value of such property located within the boundaries of the domain, the Common Council would be bound to acquire the City. property, it is recommended the Common Council seek similar Niagara Mohawk may attempt to claim trade secret status on State legislation allowing the Common Council to determine the its meter-readilng, billing and collections systems, customer value of the property owned by Niagara Mohawk before it is service system, facilities maintenance operations and acquired. Further, the Common Council, in determining such emergency restoration capabilities as well. If the claim were value, should include an assessment of stranded costs which successful the Authority might have to acquire its own property may be recoverable if approved by the PSC. to provide such services. However, it is not probable Niagara 4.APPRAISALTRIAL Mohawk would succeed on such a claim due to the Court of The appraisal trial will involve each side presenting the Appeals decision in City of New York v. Fifth Avenue Coach testimony of its expert. The duty of a court in a valuation trial is Lines, Inc., 22 N.Y.2d 613; 294 N.Y.S.2d 502 (1968). In that to determine whether the appraisal report of the condemnor or case, proceedings were brought by the City of New York to the condemnee is more correct. If, in this case, Niagara condemn properties owned by certain bus companies. Id. Mohawk is found to be more correct, the City would have to There, the Court of Appeals, in allowing the intangible property increase its offer unless the offer is based on the value to be condemned, determined the value of the companies determined pursuant to the special legislation as mentioned intangibles including personnel, operating schedules, bus above. routes and operating systems based on a reproduction cost OPERATINGAMUNICIPALELECTRICUTILITY new less depreciation formula. Id. at 505. Because the This section briefly outlines some of the practical aspects of intangible property in that case, which made it possible for the operating a municipal electric utility. The Council is condemnor city to operate the transit system immediately after empowered to fix the method of operation. N.Y. GEN. MUN. the condemnation, is so similar to the intangible property listed LAW art. 14-A § 360 (7). The Council is also authorized to above owned by Niagara Mohawk, and is likewise needed by appropriate from moneys derived from the rates charged to the municipal utility to operate immediately after condemnation, meet the municipal electric utility's expenses and activities for Niagara Mohawk is not likely to succeed in requesting that the obtaining greater efficiency. N.Y. GEN. CITY LAW art 2. § property be declared trade secret. 13-g. It is important to note, yet again, that it took the Town of In addition to the real property and special franchise property, Massena nearly seven years to put its municipal utility into representatives of Niagara Mohawk, in a meeting before the operation. Taking that into consideration, the Common Council's Cornmittee on Legislation, told Council members they Council, and members of the Common Council for years to would recover stranded costs through an exit fee added to the come must iron out every detail. As mentioned above, once the price the Common Council would pay in a condemnation Common Council requests to be allocated preferential power proceeding. November 18, 1997. However, it is unclear from the NYPA, it may take ten years to actually receive such whether the Common Council would have to pay such a fee allocations. Topics covered by this section include: setting intended to "discourage uneconomic bypass of.. [Niagara retail rates, the Public Service Cornmission's authority over Mohawk's] services and charges...," or stranded costs in other rates set by a municipality, and emergency procedures. Again, words, Niagara Mohawk's PowerChoice § 4.1 1. 1. this section is only a brief outline and is not meant to be an Just compensation could be found to have included stranded exhaustive review of operating a municipal electric utility. The costs. Stranded costs are costs a wholesale supplier of feasibility study mentioned above should address issues electricity incurs in anticipation of serving a customer which involved in operation in more detail than can be found here. later become unrecoverable, or stranded, because the 1.RETAILRATES customer stops purchasing power from that supplier, and the The Common Council is authorized to collect in its rates an supplier cannot recover those costs by selling the power amount equal to Niagara Mohawk's municipal tax payments as elsewhere. well as a reasonable return on the value of the property. Article In Village of Boonville v. Maltbie, 245 A.D. 468; 283 N.Y.S. IX, § I (f) of the New York State Constitution- N.Y. GEN. MUN. 460 (3d Dept. 1935), the Third Department stated "[m]any a LAW art. 5 § 94. The Common Council is also authorized to utility has put a portion or all of its earning back into invested sell its surplus power. Id. at § 361(l). Under section 360 of the capital and we fa to find any authority ... for holding that it General Municipal Law the Council is empowered to fix the thereby waives a future retum upon such investment." Id. at rates for the electric utility services. N.Y. GEN. MUN. LAW 466. The court, in that case, found the lower court, in art. 14-A § 360 (7). Rates should cover all costs incurred by determining what was a reasonable return on capital expended, the Common Council in providing service, including: debt erred in excluding ... evidence as to reproduction cost new less service, municipal tax equivalent payments, depreciation, power depreciation, going concern value, original cost, depreciation costs, operation and maintenance expenses, and contingency and present value. Id. Therefore, if Niagara Mohawk shows funds. evidence of the capital it has expended, their "stranded costs" Once the total cost is known, costs would have to be allocated may be included in the price paid in the condemnation to the different service classes according to the cost of proceeding instead of in addition to this price as contended by providing them service. These classes would need to be Niagara Mohawk officials. determined in advance based on demographics such as Therefore, according to the City records, the real property residential, commercial, industrial, and street lighting. The alone located within the City owned by Niagara Mohawk is Common Council may establish separate valued at between eighty-seven and ninety-four million dollars. transmission/distribution service classes under which large In addition, to begin operating immediately after condemnation users could take only transmission and distribution service-, and maintain electrical service in the City, the cost would and negotiate individual contracts for power. Thereby, these include special franchise property, intangibles and possibly users are able to benefit from retail wheeling, the procedure by damages or stranded costs. The Common Council, unwilling, which the owner of transmission lines transmits electricity and most likely unable, to issue that kind of debt should seek produced by another party for a specified charge. A rate state legislation creating an Authority for such an undertaking. design would need to be set for each service class based on 3.ACQUISITION usage, demand and hookup costs. The Cornmon Council Acquisition of the property begins with the Common Council, could avoid hidden subsidies among rate classes or among or more likely the Authority, filing a Notice of Petition in State customers by basing the rates on the usage of each class, a me-thod used when establishing the Solid Waste User Fee on transmission services precludes the mitigation of Entergy's rates. market power. Moreover, the procedures themselves hang 2.PSC'SAUTHORITYOVERRATES over any prospective deal like the sword of Damocles. To be The provisions of article four of the Public Service Law forced to litigate to determine the price of a product introduces govern certain aspects of a municipal utility's operations. N.Y. deal-killing transactional costs and uncertainties. GEN. MUN. LAW art. 14-A § 364. The most significant of Id. at 179. these provisions are those requiring utilities to file and maintain FEDERALDEREGULATION tariffs with the PSC and to secure PSC approval of any Cajun held that the FERC, in that case, committed an error in changes in those tariffs, including rate increases. N.Y. PUB. failing to explain adequately why the agency had approved a SERV. LAW §§ 65, 66 (Consol. 1997). stranded-cost provision which seemed to have strong The rates set by the Common Council must be kept on file anticompetitive overtones. Subsequently, the FERC issued with the PSC. Id. at § 66 (12)(a). The initial tariffs are not two final rules in an attempt to correct the error. These rules subject to approval by the PSC. The Common Council will address stranded costs at the wholesale level as well as open need to decrease its rates only on order of the PSC after the access to promote competition regarding the sale of electric PSC receives a complaint in writing of twenty-five active energy at wholesale in interstate commerce, FERC Order No. consumers, holds a hearing and finds the rates result in an 888, 61 Fed. Reg. at 21,628, (issued April 24, 1996). The excessive return to the utility. N.Y. GEN. MUN. LAW § 364 FERC ordered public utilities to open their transmission (2)(b). systems to outsiders, including competitors, that obtain their At any time the municipal utility proposes to change its rates, power supply from sources other than the transmitting utilities, new tariffs must be filed with the PSC approximately sixty days thus the term "open access." prior to their effectiveness. The PSC may disallow any change The FERC is encouraging the transition to a more it finds not to be just and reasonable. If the change would competitive marketplace by requiring the utilities to file open produce increased revenues of 2.5% or $100,000, public access transmission service tariffs and information on hearings are mandatory. N.Y. PUB. SERV. LAW § 66(12)(c). wholesale power transactions. 96-12 Op. PSC 31. This "open The PSC is empowered to suspend the new tariff for eleven access" directive threatens the utilities with a loss of business months while conducting formal hearings. Id. at subsection selling power, which may never be made up, leaving them with (12)(f). The Common Council would have the burden of costly excess generating capacity as well as other generation- demonstrating the new rates are just and reasonable. Id. at § 6 related costs that may go unpaid. To moderate the threat, the 5 (I). FERC has pledged to the utilities that, in return for opening 3.EMERGENCYPROCEDURES their transmission systems, they will have an opportunity in The Common Council must have the capability to deal with certain circumstances to try to recover stranded costs from natural or man-made emergencies on the first day of operation. their customers when such customers switch by purchasing This capability should include: a contingency plan with a power elsewhere. The FERC is also requiring the utilities to system for reporting emergencies and dispatching these perform the separation, or "unbundling," of wholesale reports, a control center, a contact list of response personnel, marketing and transmission operation functions. Id. inventory to bring power back, an arrangement with other Through Order No. 888, currently pending on rehearing in municipal utilities, and personnel comprised of local residents the ongoing rulemaking that prescribed open access, the so people needed to respond are in the area. As mentioned FERC spelled out the standards that an electric utility must above, some, if not all, of these components of an emergency fulfill to be eligible to recover stranded costs. With regard to a procedure may be included as intangibles when the Common contract executed or renegotiated to be effective after July 11, Council condemns the property owned b Niagara Mohawk. 1994, Order 888 requires that the contract must contain an CAJUN explicit stranded cost provision or else the utility has waived its The FERC's provisions used for stranded costs recovery in eligibility. FERC Order No. 888, 61 Fed. Reg. at 31,805. Cajun Electric Power C99p,. Inc. v. FERC, 28 F.3d 173 (D.C. Such a provision identifies the specific amount of stranded cost Cir 1994) are the same as the provisions used by the PSC. liability imposed on the utility by the lost customer and a See. "State Deregulation" below. Although the Erie County specific method for calculating the stranded cost charge or Supreme Court in the State of New York, which would hear a rate. Id. condemnation proceeding brought by Niagara Mohawk, would As to a contract executed on or before July 11, 1994, Order not be bound by the decision made by the District Court for the 888 requires that a change must be made before the contract District of Columbia, it would probably find the court's analysis expires by its own terms or else the utility has waived its in that case to be persuasive. After Cajun, the FERC issued eligibility. The timely change, according to the Order, can be Order 888 in an attempt to answer the criticisms made by the accomplished at the discretion of the utility either by negotiation court in Caun. Order 888, howev er, has not yet been (with the contracting parties amending the contract to include challenged. Furthermore, the PSC ruling takes notice of the an explicit stranded cost or exit fee provision) or unilaterally (by argument, made by the Municipal Electric Utilities Association, the utility alone filing with the Commission for resolution either that investor-owned utilities are not entitled to any recovery of such a proposed contract amendment or a proposed rate strandable costs under Cajun, but the ruling does not address increase covering stranded costs). Id. at 31,797-98. In the argument directly. 96-12 Op. PSC 20. addition, the utility must prove that when it incurred specific In Caun, wholesale and retail customers of Entergy costs (which need to be prudent, legitimate, and verifiable), it Corporation petitioned for review of three electric power tariffs had a reasonable expectation that it would continue to serve the filed by Energy and approved by the FERC. 28 F.3d 173. The particular sales customer after the existing contract terminated. tariffs were supposed to permit Entergy to engage in market- Id. at 31,788. based pricing in the generation market, while simultaneously The FERC stated it will defer to the State on several matters, introducing competition to that market. Id. The court held the including retail service to ultimate consumers, service reliability, FERC's decision to approve the tariffs without holding hearings authority to impose non-bypassable retail stranded cost was arbitrary and capricious. Id. at 175. charges. Id. The question whether the federal or a state The tariffs, in that case, were based on the notion that "if agency retains jurisdiction over retail wheeling, however, Entergy los[t] a customer of generation capacity to a competitor remains open to debate. Wheeling is where the owner of but the customer continues to employ Energy's transmission transmission lines will transmit power produced by another grid, the charge for the transmission will include not only costs source for a fee. Order 888 takes into consideration the fact directly associated with it, but also the cost of Entergy's that the issue of federal versus state jurisdiction over retail generation capacity idled by the switch." Id. at 177. The court, wheeling programs is complex and not yet totally settled. In found the tariffs to be a tying arrangement: "if a company can Order 888, the FERC declined to address the specific issue of charge a former customer for the fixed cost of its product whether states have the authority to order retai lwheeling. Also, whether or not the customer wants that product, and can tie in Order 888-A the FERC acknowledged that some states have this cost to the delivery of a bottleneck monopoly product that implemented retail wheeling, and anticipates that more states the customer must purchase, the products are....tied...... Id. at will do so. The FERC indicated that while it retains jurisdiction 178. The FERC argued its decision to approve the tariffs was over transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce, it not arbitrary because decisions as to whether stranded costs will give deference to tariffs filed with and approved by states are recoverable are made on a case-by-case basis. Id. But the as a result of implementation of retail wheeling programs. Both court was not moved by that argument: federal statutory and FERC authority indicate that the FERC The provision of procedures to determine stranded has not precluded states from implementing retail wheeling investment cost on a case-by-case basis at a later date is no programs. The Public Service Commission for the State of answer if the provision has a present anti-competitive effect. New York has begun the implementation of such programs. Assurances that stranded investment cost is legitimate, See. "State Deregulation" and "PowerChoice" below. verifiable and accurately calculated do not in themselves Most important to the issue of municipalization, however, in resolve whether the imposition of such production-related costs Order 888, the FERC stated that, where newly created municipal electric utilities required transmission service from determined by the PSC on a case-by-case basis where utilities the displaced utility, the FERC will entertain requests for will be entitled to show why it would be reasonable for recovery stranded cost recovery since such municipalization is made to be allowed. Id. The determination will involve a careful possible by open access. Thus, if the Common Council uses balancing of the interests of the utility and the expectations of the Niagara Mohawk facilities under open access it may have to its customers. Id. at 14. pay for stranded costs. Therefore, in regards to municipalization, the PSC ruling In addition to the rules set forth by the FERC, Senator provides for recovery of limited stranded costs, to be Bumpers of Arkansas, has been the only senator so far to determined by the PSC on a case-by-case basis. Under Cajun introduce federal deregulation legislation. On January 30, , however, a determination by the PSC will not help if the 1997, he introduced the Electric Consumers Protection Act of stranded costs are anti-competitive. 28 F.3d 173. "Moreover, 1997 (S.237). Due to the strong position of the industry's lobby the procedures themselves hang over any prospective deal like in Washington, it is not likely the bill will be passed, but, as the sword of Damocles. To be forced to litigate to determine mentioned above, the Common Council should be kept the price of a product introduces deal-killing transactional costs apprised of all pending legislation, agency rulings and litigation and uncertainties." Id. at 179. The PSC ruling also requires in this continually evolving area. In his introduction, among the Niagara Mohawk to try to mitigate those costs, and the court, in reasons he stated for the need for federal deregulation, Senator Caun, found that just because the stranded costs are verifiable Bumpers said six states--CA, NH, RI, PA, VE, and MA already does not mean Niagara Mohawk does not have to mitigate. Id. have legislation providing for competition in the electric utility Further, although the stranded cost must be verifiable, as industry and forty more are reviewing deregulation. This would stated under the section entitled "Condemnation," above, the mean utilities operating in more than one State could be market price of a utility is difficult to determine because there is subjected to conflicting regulatory regimes. Senator Bumpers no real market for utilities. This may mean Niagara Mohawk also said it would be unfair for a utility in a State that does not would be unable to recover the full amount of their stranded require retail competition to be able to sell power at retail in an costs due to the portions which are unverifiable. adjoining State that requires retail competition, while a utility RESPONSETOTHEPSCRULING subjected to retail competition is unable to mitigate its losses by In response to the PSC decision, the Energy Association of competing for customers in the adjoining State which does not New York State, of which Niagara Mohawk is a member, filed a provide for competition. Senator Bumpers concluded that sort lawsuit in the Supreme Court for the State of New York of anomaly both increases stranded costs and distorts the requesting the court to order a review of the decision. On generation marketplace. November 26, 1996, the court ruled against the Energy He went on to explain the limitations which need to be set on Association. Energy Association of New York State v. PSC, a utility's ability to recover stranded investments in facilities 653 N.Y. S.2d 502 (N.Y. Sup. 1996). Primarily, the court held: which would be uneconomic as a result of a transition to 1.) under sections 5(2), 64, 66(10) and 4(l) of the Public competition, in other words stranded costs. He said his bill Service Law, giving the PSC jurisdiction over utility rates, would limit such recovery to those which: 1.) were prudent services and long-range economic planning, the PSC has when incurred; 2.) are legitimate and verifiable; and 3.) cannot jurisdiction to require the companies to file restructuring plans. be mitigated by selling power to others in the competitive Id. at 509. (Niagara Mohawk subsequently fulfilled the filing market. The bill subjects a utility seeking to recover stranded requirement with its PowerChoice proposal, discussed below.) costs to review by a State commission which would then 2.) The PSC did not lack authority to order retail wheeling assess consumers a wires charge to compensate for the because the "[r]efusal to deliver a competitor's electricity, while utility's stranded costs. Stranded costs, under the bill, are to delivering one's own, would create a preferential use of the be fully recoverable, over a reasonable period of time, through a distribution system (contrary to PSL, sec. 65(3)) and otherwise charge imposed on customers, who will grouped into classes, violate state and federal antitrust laws." Id. at 5 1 0. And, 3.) and each class shall be responsible for its proportional share The PSC's decision to base the recovery of stranded costs on that existed prior to deregulation. Id. at § 106 (d) and (e). a case-by-case basis did not constitute a breach of contract Furthermore, the bill provides that "...if a retail electric energy under the utilities' regulatory compact with the State. Id. at 513 provider tells all of its generating facilities, [stranded costs will (ccitin N.Y. PUB. SERV. LAW § 72; Abrams v. PSC, 67 also mean] the difference between the book value of such N.Y.2d 205, 212; NX.S.2d 777 (1986), which interpreted facilities less the amount received from their sale." Id. at (f)(2). section 72 as empowering the PSC to denyutilities recovery of Therefore, should the Common Council decide to condemn prudent costs). The court, on that issue, held, in the absence Niagara Mohawk's generating facilities after the passage of this of arbitrary and capricious decision-making, it must defer to the bill, it may have to pay limited stranded costs. regulatory body. Energy Association of New York State v. What the passage of this bill could mean to municipalization PSC, 653 N.Y. S.2d 502, 515. On December 24, 1996 the is somewhat unclear. The bill calls for all persons seeking to Energy Association and its member companies filed a notice of sell retail electric energy to have "...reasonable and appeal with the Appellate Division, Third Department, of the nondiscriminatory access to the local distribution and retail New York State Supreme Court. The case is still pending. transmission facilities of all retail electric energy providers and Therefore, the Common Council will probably have to wheel all related services." S.23 7, 105th Cong., 1st Sess. § 102 (b). power to competitors, unless the decision as to that issue is This would open such facilities, owned by Niagara Mohawk, to overturned. Id. The ruling made by the PSC to determine the Common Council to provide retail service. It would also stranded cost recovery on a case-by-case basis is still open to mean that, if the Common Council were to condemn such attack as being anti-competitive. See. facilities, the Common Council would have to allow access to Ca'un, 28 F.3d 173. Best of all, under Abrams, the PSC may the facilities by a competitive retail service. deny Niagara Mohawk recovery of stranded costs against the STATEDEREGULATION Common Council, 67 N.Y.2d 205. On May 16, 1996 the PSC made a ruling in the Competition POWERCHOICE Opportunities Proceeding which ordered the restructuring of PowerChoice is the proposal, submitted by Niagara Mohawk the electric industry in the State of New York. The decision and approved by the PSC, to restructure Niagara Mohawk in calls for a competitive wholesale power market in 1997 and the accordance with the PSC opinion discussed above. The introduction of retail access for all electric customers in early opinion given in this section will regard PowerChoice as 1998. originally submitted due to the failure of the PSC to answer Similar to the bill before Congress, the ruling states that requests for the revised PowerChoice after approval. Under strandable costs, which could be the subject of a separate PowerChoice, Niagara Mohawk will freeze its residential and recovery mechanism (outside the market) must be prudent, commercial electricity prices for five years while cutting prices verifiable, and non-mitigatable. 96-12 Op. PSC 13. Stranded for industrial customers. Thus, only one class of customers, costs are costs a wholesale supplier of electricity incurs in large industries, will receive a reduction in rates for the first five anticipation of serving a customer which later become years. There are several provisions in PowerChoice that affect unrecoverable, or stranded, because the customer stops municipalization. purchasing power from that supplier, and the supplier cannot For example, any municipality that establishes its own recover those costs by selling the power elsewhere. The electric system will have to pay a competition transition charge calculation of these costs “...requires comparing an asset s ("CTC"), also referred to as an exit fee, to enable the full book value to its market price..., [and] in order to be verifiable recovery of stranded costs, even if the municipality remains there should be a way to check any preliminary estimate of a connected to Niagara Mohawk's system. Full recovery, strandable cost after the market price is known." Id. however, has never been promised by rulings made by federal The ruling provides for recovery of utility stranded costs by a or state agencies. The PSC ruling limited recovery of these non-bypassable "Wires charge" to be imposed on customers. costs to ones that are "...prudent, verifiable, and Id. But the ruling also directs that creative means are to be nonmitigatable." 96-12 Op. PSC 13. The PSC ruling stated used by utilities to reduce the amount of these costs before the PSC would determine which of these costs are recoverable they are considered for recovery. Id. These costs will be on a case-by-case basis. Under Cajun, deciding the recoverability of stranded costs on a case-by-case basis is not ruling made by the PSC. The revenues lost formula is equal to acceptable if the costs are found by a court to be anti-the net present value over Y years of (R-E). Where R equals competitive. 28 F.3d 173. the annual estimate revenue from the customer, E equals the The CTC is anti-competitive because, as mentioned above, Company's estimate of the annual revenues it can receive by according to PowerChoice, if the Common Council establishes selling the released capacity, and Y is the number of years a municipal electric utility, but decides not to condemn Niagara required for the Company to recover its full stranded costs. Mohawk's transmission grid -- steel towers, transformers and PowerChoice § 4.11.3. According to this formula, not only does wire, and the municipal utility remains connected to Niagara any customer who chooses the competition have to pay for Mohawk's transmission system, the Common Council would Niagara Mohawk's poor investment decisions, but Niagara still be charged the CTC. The court, in Cajun, found the exact Mohawk determines the price. But the PSC ruling stated the same type of charge to be a tying arrangement. Id. at 178. PSC would determine what stranded costs would be The electric utility in that case wanted to build its stranded recoverable on a case-by-case basis. Suppose Niagara costs into the charge former customers would pay for Mohawk didn't feel it should invest in the marketing required to transmission so that the charge for transmission included the sell the released capacity? The customer, in this case the cost of the utility's generation capacity idled by the loss of the Common Council, is not entitled to any mitigation of the CTC customer. Id. at 177. The same situation is presented here, under PowerChoice. Again, PowerChoice is contrary to the according to PowerChoice, if the municipal utility continues to PSC ruling which stated stranded costs must be "...must be employ Niagara Mohawk's transmission grid, it will be charged prudent, verifiable, and non-mitigatable." 96-12 Op. PSC 13. a CTC to enable the full recovery of stranded costs. Under The recommendeddecision to approve PowerChoice, written Cajun, the CTC, in that situation where the utility continues to by Administrative Law Judge William Bouteiller, suggested use Niagara Mohawk's transmission, is a tying arrangement Niagara Mohawk accept partialcontributions towards and is anti-competitive, "Antitrust laws ... are as important to strandable costs from municipalities that prefer to form their the preservation of economic freedom and our free-enterprise own systems. The decision states a one-time CTC would be system as the Bill of Rights is to the protection of our based on the amount of revenues the company stands to loose- fundamental personal freedoms. And the freedom guaranteed -but it could be paid in installments. In addressing the each and every business, no matter how small, is the freedom concerns raised by municipalities wishing to operate their own to compete -- to assert with vigor, imagination, devotion, and electric systems and their dissatisfaction with both the rates ingenuity whatever economic muscle it can muster." United charged by Niagara Mohawk as well as the CTC, the States v. Topco Associates, Inc., 405 U.S. 596, 610 1972). administrative law judge suggested the P SC find a way to Furthermore, in PowerChoice, Niagara Mohawk states the forestall a continuation of this dissatisfaction as the state's intent of the CTC, or exit fee, is to "discourage [the] electric industry is being restructured. Unfortunately, although uneconomic bypass of the Company's services and charges in the PSC has approved PowerChoice, it has not yet rendered a cases where such bypass is not economic from society's decision standpoint and would therefore shift costs to other involving the concerns raised in the recommended decision stakeholders." PowerChoice § 4.1 1. 1. These "other to approve PowerChoice and a revised PowerChoice as stakeholders," include holders of shares in Niagara Mohawk. It approved by the PSC is not available. is unfair that shareholders are entitled to full recovery of the Therefore, the PSC's approval of PowerChoice may provide cost of investments unable to be recovered in a competitive ground for "arbitrary and capricious" challenges under Article market. In a market where there is, and always has been, 78 of the CPLR, as well as a challenge as to its anticompetitive competition, investments made by a manufacturer that could effect provided a potential plaintiff has standing. When the not be recovered through the price of the product would be approval of PowerChoice was announced, still in the mist of considered bad investments. For example, for twenty years researching the topic of municipalization and deregulation, it Company A is the only company producing widgets for a given was hard to believe the PSC would approve of a plan that flies community. Suddenly, Company B moves in and begins to in the face of its own ruling. Although the PSC approved a compete with Company A. This new competition results in a revised PowerChoice which is still unavailable, it is almost loss to the shareholders of A, because, due to the competition impossible that the revision obliterated all grounds for the price of widgets has dropped and Company A is still paying challenge. for the spa and health club it installed for its executive officers. ALLIEDSIGNAL,INC. The customers of B certainly wouldn't be required to make up Allied Signal, Inc. ("Allied") provides a perfect example of for the loss incurred by the shareholders of A due to their poor why deregulation and a competitive electric utility industry could investment decision. be very important to the Common Council in its attempts to Similarly, because the regulators of the utility industry allowed encourage commercial development within its boundaries. Niagara Mohawk a monopoly for over twenty years, Niagara Allied, a manufacturer of products for the automotive and Mohawk invested to its heart's content believing the pot of gold aerospace industries, has petitioned the PSC, on behalf of its would never run low. But, now that Niagara Mohawk has to plant in the village of Green Island, to order Niagara Mohawk to compete, the competition should not have to pay for Niagara disconnect the plant from its utility grid. The case may show Mohawk's poor investment decisions. And the effect of forcing how inclined the PSC is to foster electric utility deregulation by the competition to contribute to make up for the loss incurred its determination as to whether an industrial customer can ask by Niagara Mohawk shareholders is no different than allowing to be disconnected from a utility electric system in order to take the monopoly to continue. Although the PSC requires Niagara power from another utility. The legal issues will include Mohawk to prove stranded costs are the result of prudent questions of anti-competitive behavior and antitrust violations. investments, what is prudent? Furthermore, who will decide In addition, a number of economic issues are involved, what is prudent? including the complaint that electric rates in New York State put In approving PowerChoice the PSC noted that the bulk of the manufacturers at an almost insurmountable competitive stranded costs were incurred in response to government disadvantage. policies designed to promote the independent power industry. Allied alleges Niagara Mohawk has refused to disconnect it The PSC determined that newly formed municipal systems for anti-competitive reasons. The company wants to purchase should not be exempt from the CTC because to do so would electricity for the plant from the Green Island Power Authority increase the burden on remaining customers. However, there ("GIPN'), a municipal utility, at a rate around 50 percent lower are plenty of other industries that have to make large than it currently pays Niagara Mohawk. GIPA can offer lower investments to comply with government regulations, and they rates because it purchases electricity from the New York Power are not allowed to pass those costs on to the competition. If Authority. N.Y. GEN. MUN. LAW art. 14-A § 360 (2). they were it would more than likely be found to be an unfair In response, Niagara Mohawk sought a permanent injunction restriction on free trade. Instead, individual companies are in state Supreme Court in Albany County in October to prohibit forced to either pass those costs on to their customers or go GIPA from providing electricity to the plant. To support its out of business. For example, many companies in the steel position, Niagara Mohawk cited a 10-year-old settlement with industry such as Bethlehem Steel, when faced with federal GIPA that essentially decided which classes of customers in emissions standards, had to close their plants. Likewise, the Green Island were to be served by each of the utilities. Niagara automotive industry is constantly faced with environmental and Mohawk also asked the PSC to dismiss the case because safety regulations, and it must raise prices to cover the cost of disconnecting the plant would aid and abet the GIPA in its compliance. Those industries are not afforded the luxury of plans to violate the settlement. The GIPA contends there are passing on such costs to new competitors just entering the legal problems with the contract which it was coerced into marketplace. Therefore, it is difficult to understand why signing, and Allied claims the settlement is an illegal restraint of Niagara Mohawk is different, especially given the profits it trade which violates antitrust laws. reaped due to a more than twenty-year monopoly. Allied charges that, after it inquired about the process by To add to the anti-competitive nature of the CTC, Niagara which it could be disconnected, Niagara Mohawk terminated Mohawk's formula for calculating the CTC is contrary to the the plant's negotiated rate arrangement, which had been in existence for almost 10 years, increasing the rate paid by the there are potential problems due to pending legislation, the idea plant to an average of around 10 cents per kilowatt hour should not be discarded, but rather explored further. At the ("Kwh"). It is Allied's position that it is ready and willing to very least, a request for proposals should be prepared to make payments due under the tariff for the three months examine the costs and to determine what the financial subsequent to the cancellation notice. Niagara Mohawk implications will be, now and in the future. counters that it informed Allied that it would not waive its fights REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION under the previous court-sanctioned agreements. Meanwhile, GIPA has built a substation and is ready to connect Allied as soon as Niagara Mohawk removes its wires. In its PSC filing, FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFCOMMUNITY Niagara Mohawk calls the substation a duplication of DEVELOPMENT distribution facilities and refuses to strand its prudently incurred costs. In the alternative, if the PSC rules against Niagara NO.51 Mohawk, the utility is requesting that no action be taken until LDA-SOUTHELLICOTTPHASE2URBANRENEWAL Allied pays an exit fee established by PowerChoice. AREAAPPROVALOFCONTRACTFORSALEOFLAND- The reason for the dispute is that the lowest rate Allied could 1.9ACRES negotiate with Niagara Mohawk was 8.5 cents per kwh, but the PORTIONOF289EXCHANGESTREET average cost for electricity for Allied's competitors ranges from The City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency duly 2.9 to 4.5 cents per kwh. GIPA offered 5 cents per kwh. designated Acquest Holdings, Inc. and/or joint venture, Electric rates play a crucial role in a commercial business partnership, corporation or other legal entity to be formed as the location decision, and Niagara Mohawk's stronghold over those qualified and eligible Redeveloper for the subject parcel. rates causes those business to glean right past the prospect of The Agency has also determined that the proposed setting up shop in the City of Buffalo. As far as residential Land Disposition Agreement negotiated by the Agency and the rates, the GIPA charges its residential customers around 5.5 Redeveloper is satisfactory. cents per kwh and commercial customers pay even less. Please be advised that in accordance with the Niagara Mohawk charges residential customers in the City of provisions of Article 15A of the General Municipal Law, it is Buffalo 10.5 cents per kwh. now necessary for your Honorable Body to set a date for a Therefore, although, due to its fact-specific nature, the Allied public hearing, and to direct the publication of a notice of said Signal dispute does not pose the same questions raised in this hearing. In the interest of time and anticipating that Your paper, it is informative as to the way Niagara Mohawk operates Honorable Body is willing to expedite this matter, I have taken to maintain its stronghold and discourage competition. This the liberty to prepare a Resolution together with a Notice of dispute also exemplifies the difference in rates between Public Hearing for your action. Niagara Mohawk and a municipally owned electric utility. Lower Forwarded herewith are the following documents: rates are always a good idea, but in the case of a city 1. Resolution setting Public Hearing attempting to attract both new business and residents, cheaper 2. Notice of Public Hearing electric power is an exciting prospect. 3. Resolution approving proposed Land THECOMMONCOUNCIL'SOPTIONS Disposition Agreement As mentioned above in the section entitled "Feasibility 4. Proposed Land Disposition Agreement Study," the Common Council should issue a request for After the Public Hearing is held, Your Honorable proposals for the preparation of a feasibility study for a Body may adopt a Resolution authorizing the disposition of the municipal power system. Next, it could either prepare the study land to the Redeveloper, which the Agency has designated as using its own budget, or first establish a municipal utility, the being qualified and eligible. Authority, as a vehicle for exploring the options available. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY Some of the options include, as mentioned above, either DEVELOPMENT. condemning Niagara Mohawk's entire Buffalo operation, or taking on the functions of an energy services company or an NO.52 aggregator. This would mean the Authority would use Niagara NEWCONSTRUCTIONPOLICY Mohawk's transmission grid to provide its own power STATUSREPORTTOCOMMONCOUNCIL generation services, or combine with other entities such as Attached for Common Council review are the surrounding municipalities to provide such services. On the Department of Community Developments new home other hand, the Common Council could choose to own and construction policies. The document outlines the process operate the wires only, leaving the energy services role to the designating development areas, builder selection, competitive marketplace. This would allow the Authority to use environmental review, and complaint review. Listed below are its tax exempt financing ability to keep distribution rates low, the complaints the Division of Neighborhood's staff are while at the same time allowing residents to shop for their own addressing and currently working with the homeowners and power. Wires used to deliver power in wholesale transactions contractors to resolve the specific problems: would be FERC jurisdictional, while those used to deliver power Address: 38 Schutrum to end-users would be PSC jurisdictional. Contractor: Gal Van Alternatively, the Common Council could leave the wires with Complaint: water in basement Niagara Mohawk and provide aggregator services only. The Status: problem revolved Authority may have the legal authority to serve as the exclusive Address: 209 East Ferry aggregator for the community (a community-wide load Contractor: Gal Van aggregator), compete with other aggregators or be the Complaint: water - roof leaking exclusive aggregator for certain segments of the community. Status: problem addressed - simple solution - waiting for The Common Council could also combine ownership of the contractor distribution system with aggregator services on a non-Address: Suffolk Street New Housing exclusive, competitive basis. This would bring the benefits of Contractor: Burke Brothers Developers tax exempt financing to the rates paid by all end-users for Complaint: slow problems with escrow items - delivery service and provide bulk purchasing benefits for all railings, sidewalks, landscaping consumers while still allowing users to make their own Status: problem resolved - work being completed purchasing decisions. Another option would be for the Address: 757 East Eagle Common Council to create a portfolio of power generating Contractor: Burke Brothers Developers resources from different suppliers, or to participate in joint Complaint: water ponding in rear yard action agency. This agency currently consists of seventeen Status: problem being resolved municipal systems in New York which purchase incremental Address: 588 Spring power supplies from three different suppliers and was formed Contractor: James Management under Section II9-o of the General Municipal Law. Complaint: garage pad and poor grade of top soil The Common Council has so many options available that are Status: working with contractor to resolve the problem mingled with numerous complexities. A feasibility study could Address: 165 Purdy be a start to putting things into perspective. Municipalization of Contractor: Gal Van the electric industry could help to entice new taxpayers to move Complaint: waiting for home owner to set-up an to the City of Buffalo, as well as encourage the taxpayers appointment for inspection currently residing here to stay. Therefore, the Common REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY Council should, in the very least, be open to discussing the DEVELOPMENT. idea. CONCLUSION NO.53 Municipalization, in light of deregulation, should be PASCHAMANN-WATERDRAINAGEPROBLEM considered and discussed by the Common Council. While AT757E.EAGLESTREET CCP#99-APRIL28,1998 At this time, Ms. Pettigrew is out of town and not available for a In response to several items that were bought to the Council's site visit. She has notified the Division that she will contact us attention by Ms Pascha Mann on May 20, 1998 at the upon her return. Community Development Committee meeting (CCP #99 - REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY attached), the following items have been resolved: DEVELOPMENT. 1. Complaint: Toilet does not flush properly. Response: Terry Sexton, Director of New NO.55 Construction, met with Ms. Mann and Channel 2 GRAPHICCONTROLSDEVELOPMENT- News on May 14, 1998 to inspect Ms. Mann's toilet. EXCHANGESTREET Mr. Sexton found that the toilet was working in SEQRNEGATIVEDECLARATION proper order. A Negative Declaration for the above-referenced 2. Complaint: Replacement of three (3) stairs in project is hereby filed with your office in accordance with rear by patio doors. Section 617.12 of the New York State Environmental Quality Response: The stairs will be replaced once the work Review Act. has been completed. If you should have any Questions please contact 3. Complaint: Landscaping - grass seed mixture Gregory Bernas in the Division of Planning at 851-5083. had weeds. Thank you. Response: A supreme hydroseed will be applied RECEIVED AND FILED. upon the completion of the grading. NO.56 4. Complaint: Will the City replace the fence? 1269&1277JEFFERSONAVENUE Response:Two sections of the existing fence will be 350&358RILEYSTREET removed to conduct the necessary repairs and REQUESTTOTRANSFERTOCITYOFBUFFALO properly reinstated. AMERICANREDCROSSPROJECT 5. Complaint: Will the berm be leveled? The American Red Cross is prepared to construct an Response: The berm will not be leveled. A swail will emergency shelter on a parcel bounded by Jefferson - Riley be graded around the sides of the property to divert and Landon Streets. ground water. Drain tile will be added to the back The majority of the parcel is owned by the City of Buffalo section of the property along the base of the berm. except for the above four (4) parcels. 6. Complaint: Foundation cracks were found. Attached is a copy of a letter from Councilmember Barbara Response: A foundation crack was observed and Miller-Williams supporting the project. determined to be a shrinkage crack, this will be John Hannon is having the entire parcel appraised with a corrected by the contractor. separate dollar amount put on the BURA parcels. BURA will 7. Complaint: Sewer cleaning and street drainage then be compensated for the four (4) parcels from the final grades. sale. A copy of a map with the subject area outlined is Response: The sewers were previously cleaned and attached. Public Works Department have been notified to We, therefore, respectfully request Your Honorable Body to rebuild the front curbs. approve the transfer of title from BURA to the City of Buffalo for 8. Complaint: Possible damage to the Driveway the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) and no more. and/or sidewalk by heavy machinery brought on to REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. the property to do the work. Response: Heavy machinery will not be brought on NO.57 to the property RESULTSOFNEGOTIATIONS 9. Complaint: Coverage of loss of property in 69WEST,NORTHCORNEROFVIRGINIA basement in case of flooding when work begins. VACANTLOT:41'X75’ Response: This Department cannot answer ASSESSEDVALUATION:$5,300 pertaining to the possibility of further flooding. The Department of Community Development, In addition, the remaining houses were inspected and no Division of In-Rem Properties, has received a request to problems were noted. One of the homeowners were purchase 69 West Avenue from Mr. Raul A. Hernandez, 186 interviewed while Channel 2 was present and reported that he Whitney Place, Buffalo, New York. Mr. Hernandez owns 288 loves his new home and does not have any problems to report. Virginia Street, which adjoins 69 West Avenue. He intends to Mr. Sexton has been monitoring the Contractor to follow-up on clean up the area and use for extra yard space. the work. The Contractor reports that work is scheduled to The Department of Community Development and begin on June 8, 1998. Division of Collections have no objections to the sale. There REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY are no outstanding taxes, building code violations, or other liens DEVELOPMENT. owed to the City of Buffalo by the purchaser. An independent appraisal of the property was NO.54 conducted by Bronstein Appraisal Service, 3666 Main Street, T.PETTIGREW-BNRCLOAN-258LEMONCOMPLAINTS Buffalo, New York 14226. He has estimated the value of the CCP#104-APRIL14,1998 property to be Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500). The Division The Division of Neighborhoods has reviewed the concerns of In-Rem Properties concurs with the appraisers estimate of noted in the letter dated March 31,1998 from Ms. Tracy value. Pettigrew of 258 Lemon. Ms. Pettigrew obtained the house at The results of our negotiations are that Mr. Hernandez has the County in rem auction in a state of advanced disrepair. The agreed and is prepared to pay Fifteen Hundred Dollars Department provided assistance of $20,000 to help bring the ($1,500) for the subject property. He has also agreed to pay home into compliance with local codes. As part of the work, for the cost of the appraisal, transfer tax, recording fees and the contractor, Hefty's Construction, rebuilt the chimney, cost of the legal description. installed a new roof with gutters and downspouts, sided the I am recommending that Your Honorable Body entire house and added a porch deck, steps, awning and approve the sale of 69 West Avenue to Mr. Raul Hernandez in railings, provided three new doors where previously there were the amount of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500). I am further none, installed all new windows, reinforced flooring with recommending that the Corporation Counsel prepare the plywood underlayment in areas on the first floor, installed a necessary documents for the transfer of title and that the Mayor dropped ceiling and new cabinets in the kitchen, and installed a be authorized to execute the same. new heating system. In December, 1997, Mickey Howard, REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. Frank Rossi, and Ron Sokolowski, the original project monitor, visited the home. It was noted that there may be structural NO.58 problems which are causing some of the repairs to be pulled CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT out of alignment (the floor, the awing, possibly the siding). In Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of order to determine if the problems cited by Ms. Pettigrew are Community Development, Division of Inspections, Licenses & the result of poor workmanship, or if more serious structural Permits to the Position of Senior Inventory Clerk, Permanent problems exist, the Division of Neighborhoods has designated Appointment at the Intermediate Starting Salary of $27,321 a new team to investigate her concerns. Tom Wilcox of BNRC, Salvatore Canazzi, 193 St. Lawrence Street, Buffalo, New York Bob Krieger, Rehab Construction Analyst and Mickey Howard, 14216 will again schedule a meeting with Ms. Pettigrew and determine what, if anything, should be done. In necessary, the Division FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFSTREETSANITATION will allocate additional funds to assist with corrective action. If the problems are structural in nature, Ms. Pettigrew may need NO.59 to obtain additional assistance from a private lender. R.F.P.-EASTSIDETRANSFERSTATION Enclosed please find copies of the following: The difference between the old and "new" language is that 1. Request for Proposals (RFP) for the operation of the East under the old, the insured could file under major medical for Side Transfer Station; 80% reimbursement of the $3 co-pay amount--that is, could be 2. Comments on the draft RFP that was previously published; reimbursed $2 of the copay--and this is no longer available 3. Response to the substantive comments on the draft RFP. under "new language." Thus, the most that a policyholder is I wish to file these with the City Clerks Office in accordance exposed in terms of drug cost should be the $2. with 120-W of General Municipal Law. If you should have any Steve Miska, Assistant Director of Labor and Employee questions, please contact me at 851-5355. Thank you for your Relations, is available to answer any questions you may have assistance in this matter. on this issue. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE. NO.60 NO.63 AMENDEDFINALRFP-EASTSIDETRANSFERSTATION CHANGESTOGREATLAKESCONTRACT Enclosed please find copies of the following: The following changes have been made and incorporated into 1 . Amended Final Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Agreement for Debt Recovery Services with Great Lakes the operation of the East Side Transfer Station (ESTS); Collection Bureau, Inc. 2. Comments on the draft RFP that was previously Page 8 - Section 3 - Add...'address and employment' of each published; debtor. 3. Amended response to the substantive Page 9 - Section 4 - CHANGE $ 1 00.00 to '$50.00' comments on the draft RFP. Page 15 - Section 2 - ADD...'Commissioner of Administration I am filing these with the Clerk's Office again since and Finance' proof there has been an amendment to the RFP. The amendment of .. consists of a due date change from June 12, 1998 to June 26, Mrs. LoTempio moved: 1998. If you should have any questions, please contact me at That the changes as listed above be added to the 851-5355. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Agreement for Debt Recovery Services with Great Lakes REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET. Collection Bureau, Inc. and incorporated into the final document. FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFADMINISTRATIONANDPASSED. FINANCE AYES-11. NOES-0. NO.61 FROMTHECOMMISSIONEROFHUMANSERVICES, ADOPTEDBUDGETREVISIONS PARKSANDRECREATION Please be advised that the transfer to the Enterprise Fund - Refuse & Recycling for $1,879,149 that was voted on in NO.64 the "change-by" Council budget sheets as account 100818-RESPONSE-HIRECONSULTANTTODEMOLISHCITY 00000-053 should not appear in the budget as a general DIVINGPOOL charges appropriation. Rather, this transfer should appear in CCP#72C.C.P.MAY26,1998 the budget as an interfund transfer in the "Revenues, I have been asked to respond to the above-named matter. Resources, and Interfund Transferes' section where the The pools in question are no longer used because transfers to the Board of Education, NorthAmericare and they no longer meet state safety specifications. These pools Capital Debt Service funds appear. The correct total for have not been open for at least ten (10) years and remain a General Charges is $27,895,618 and the correct amount for serious liability question for the City. transfers out is $95,552,016. Community Development has identified the Also, there was an amendment made to the budget on demolition funds and we wholeheartedly support the demolition the Council floor increasing the appropriation to the Division for effort. Youth - Youth Court Administration in the amount of $55,400. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. The balancing action was to reduce the amount the Council added to the interfund transfer from the General Fund to the NO.65 Capital Debt Service Fund by $55,400. However the new PERMISSIONTOTRADEINEQUIPMENTTOPURCHASE amount was miscalculated and the transfer to the Debt Service NEWEQUIPMENT-JACOBSONENGINE was only reduced by $55,000. The correct amount to be added Iam writing to request permission to trade in the to the transfer to the debt service should be $421,988 rather equipment listed below, to enable us to purchase seven (7) than $422,388. (1998 Jacobson T 445G Turfcat 44.6 h.p. engine. ('Item No. Both of these changes should be reflected when the adopted 13 #PO52035, $9,588. each for a total of $67,116. total.) budget is printed. Monies from this trade in will be used to purchase this Thank you for your attention to this matter. equipment under State contract. Mrs. LoTempio moved: PK 8704 1987 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. DIESEL That the above communication from the Department blown engine - no deck $200 of Administration and Finance dated June 2, 1998, be received PK 8705 1987 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. DIESEL and filed; and transmission slips $1,300 That the 1998-1999 Fiscal Year Budget of the City PK 8811 1988 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. GAS frames and of Buffalo be amended and corrected to read as stated in the cuffing decks worn out $1,000 above communication. PK 8812 1988 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. GAS frames and PASSED. cutting decks worn out $1,000 AYES-11. NOES-0. PK 8813 1988 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. GAS frames and cutting decks worn out $1,000 NO.62 PK 8814 1988 CUSHMAN 3 CYL. GAS frames and C.ZANE-MEDICALBENEFITSRETIREDBLDG.INSP. cutting decks worn out $1,000 CCP#104-4/28/98 PK 8905 1989 TORO TORO GROUNDSMASTER There were some slight changes, effective I/l/98, in the Blue frames and cutting decks worn out $1,500 Cross Blue Shield insurance riders. The changes were the PK 8906 1989 TORO TORO GROUNDSMASTER result of Blue Cross Blue Shield shifting over to "new frames and cutting decks work out $1,500 language" contracts; the City negotiated this change with all PK 89G7 1989 TORO TORO GROUNDSMASTER active employees in our last round of contracts, and asked Blue transmission slips $1,500 Cross Blue Shield to delay this change for retirees as long as PK 8908 1989 TORO TORO GROUNDSMASTER possible. The result of our request for delay is that the City of frames and cutting decks work out $1,500 Buffalo is the last Blue Cross Blue Shield customer to change S 300 PK 1970 John Deere-CG clutch and over to the C 4 new language" contracts; unfortunately, though, hydraulic pump doesn't work $1,750 there is no alternative but to make the shift. Blue Cross Blue PK 603 1966 FORD FORKLIFT rotted out Shield simply will not make our previous contract available any needs engine $1,750 longer. PK 503 1975 JD TRUCK W/ BUCKET We have attempted to make the "new language" contracts as clutch and hydraulic pump doesn't work $3,500 close as possible to the old ones; in that light, we included the PK 8316 1983 GMC DUMP won't run rotted prescription drug rider with the $3 co-pay, which can be seen out $500 on any Blue Cross Blue Shield policyholder's insurance card. PK 8318 1983 GMC DUMP clutch - rotted out Thus, drugs are still available with the $3 co-pay--to my $500 knowledge, there should be no one with a "no drugs" policy. PK 8320 1983 GMC DUMP cab/ floor rotting $500 PUBLIC WORKS. P 382 PK 1972 DODGE VAN rotted out needs transmission $200 FROMTHECITYCLERK Your anticipated approval is appreciated. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. NO.70 LIQUORLICENSEAPPLICATIONS NO.66 Attached hereto are communications from persons applying for PERMISSIONTOTRADEINEQUIPMENTANDPURCHASEliquor licenses from the Erie County Alcohol Beverage Control NEWEQUIPMENT-ZAMBONIS Board. I am writing to request permission to trade in the following four Address Business Name Owner's Name (4) Zarnboni's and take bids to purchase two (2) Zamboni's with side brush and gas engine. 125 High St. Med Inn Ctrs of Amer. F. Ciccarelli We are anticipating trading in the first three vehicles listed; and 229 Mackinaw St. same as address 229 Mackinaw if necessary, the fourth Zamboni, St. Inc. PKZ10 1985 Zamboni RECEIVED AND FILED PKZ11 1986 Zamboni PK8308 1983 Zamboni NO.71 PKZ12 1986 Zamboni LEAVESOFABSENCEWITHOUTPAY Your anticipated approval is appreciated. I transmit herewith notifications received by me, reporting the REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. granting of the leaves of absence without pay, in the various departments as listed: NO.67 Comptroller- Janet Reyes REPORTOFBIDS-SOUNDANDLIGHTINGSYSTEMFOR Public Works - Carmen Degener LASALLEPARKPAVILION Police- Anthony Sisti Jr., Leonard R. Valvo C.C.P.#8103/31/98 Community Development- Robert E. Katilus As authorized by your Honorable Body this department Administration and Finance- John S. Petch prepared specifications for the Sound and Lighting Human Services, Parks/Recreation- Gaetano Agro System at LaSalle Park Pavilion. Advertisement and bids were RECEIVED AND FILED. handled and received by the Division of Purchase. Attached please rind a copy of the tabulations along with a copy NO.72 of the winning bid proposal. Upon your approval, we will REPORTSOFATTENDANCE proceed with drawing tip a contract per the terms of the bid. I transmit herewith communications received by me, from the NAME OF BIDDER AMOUNT various boards, commissions, agencies and authorities Unistage, Inc. $ 1,294. Small Show reporting the membership attendance at their respective 330 Genesee Street 2,294. Large Show meetings: Buffalo, New York 14204 $ 3,588. Buffalo Sewer Authority Audio Arts Production Inc. 1,170. Small Show City Planning Board 255 Green Arrow Avenue 2.280. Large Show RECEIVED AND FILED. Buffalo, New York 14207 $ 3,450. Indigo Productions $ 1,200. Small Show NO.73 2820 Bailey Avenue 2,200. Large Show NOTICESOFAPPOINTMENTS-COUNCILINTERNS Buffalo, New York 14215 $3,400. I transmit herewith appointments to the position of Council I hereby certify that Indigo Productions is the low bidder for the Intern. sound and lighting system at LaSalle Park Pavilion in the total Mrs. LoTempio moved the approval of the appointments to the amount of $3,400. [small and large shows] position of Council Intern. REFERRED TO THE- C0MMITTEE ON FINANCE. ADOPTED. Appointment Effective May 21, 1998 in the Department of NO.68 Common Council to the Position of Intern V, Seasonal, Non- CERTIFICATEOFAPPOINTMENT Competitive, at the Flat Starting Salary of: $8.00 per hr. Appointment effective May 29, 1998 in the Department of Christopher McCabe, 8 Britt Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220 Administration and Finance, Civil Service Commission, to the Appointment Effective May 26, 1998 in the Department of position of Personnel Assistant-(Civil Service), Permanent, Common Council to the Position of Intern V, Seasonal, Non- Promotional, at the Intermediate Starting Salary of $26,364.00 Competitive, at the Flat Starting Salary of $8.00 per hr. Carolyn A. Lenczyk, 129 Walter Street, Buffalo, NY 14210 Nicole Aquino, 375 Voorhees Ave., Buffalo, NY 14216 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Common Council, to the Position of Intern IV, Seasonal, Non- FROMTHEBOARDOFEDUCATION Competitive, at the Flat Starting Salary of: $ 6.00 per hr. Joseph Malkinski, 744 Amherst St. Buffalo NY, 14216 NO.69 REQUESTTOPURCHASE378NORMALAVE. NO.74 TOBEUSEDFORSCHOOL77 APPOINTMENTS-MAYOR'SYOUTHOPPORTUNITY& TOPIC: Purchase of 378 Normal Avenue for potential EMPLOYMENT playground adjacent to School #77 where the property is I transmit herewith appointments made in the Mayor's Youth located. Opportunities and Employments Programs. WHEREAS: The property owners are interested in selling the RECEIVED AND FILED. house at 378 Normal; and Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of WHEREAS: The Buffalo Board of Education is interested in Mayor's Office, Mayor's Summer Youth & Intern Program, to purchasing the property; and the Position of Intern V, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the Flat WHEREAS: The Board is in the process of changing School Starting Salary of $8.00/hr #77 from a PreKindergarten to 8th grade school to a Pre-Jason Bailey, 56 Brantford PI. #3, Buffalo NY, 14222 Kindergarten to 4th grade school;and Appointments Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of WHEREAS: The property would be ideal for use as a Mayor's Office, Mayor's Summer Youth & Intern Program, to playground; and the Position of Intern IV, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the Flat WHEREAS: The Board has identified the funding for the Starting Salary of $6.00/hr $2500 purchase offer from A000-9950 and has approved Somer Mayer, 184 Aldrich PI., Buffalo NY, 14220 funding for same; and Kathy Toepfer, 81 Milford St., Buffalo NY, 14220 WHEREAS: The Board will work with Councilmember Eric Williams, 201 University Ave., Buffalo NY, 14214 Quintana for possible block grant funding; and Sean Alfano, 91 Dorchester Road, Buffalo NY, 14213 WHEREAS: The Board will work with the Councilmember and John Caputo, 317 Fargo Avenue, Buffalo NY, 14213 the City Officials in requesting City demolition of the house at James Creahan, 96 Shenandoah Rd., Buffalo NY, 14220 378 Normal Robert Gianadda, 90 Lexington Ave., Buffalo NY, 14222 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Richard Hall IV, 50 Revere Pl., Buffalo NY, 14214 That this resolution be sent to the Common Council, the Real Amy Kasianowicz, 504 McKinley Pkwy., Buffalo NY, 14220 Estate Division of the City and the property owner, Mr. Allen Brian Kreutter, 101 Shoshone Rd., Buffalo NY, 14214 Rauch of 144 Briarwood Drive for completion of the purchase. Susan Schwing, 58 Polish Pl., Buffalo NY, 142 1 0 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Rachele William, 121 Burke Drive, Buffalo, N.Y. 14215 DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE,, AND COMMISSIONER OF Jennifer Barrett, 90 Ridgewood Road, Buffalo NY, 14220 Appointment Effective May 27, 1998 in the Department of to the position of Intern IV, Seasonal, at the flat starting salary Mayor's Office, Mayor's Summer Youth & Intern Program of $6.00 /hr. to the Position of Intern IV, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the Peter J. Savage, 207 West Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 Flat Starting Salary of $6.00/hr DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORK Alice M. Zebracki, 1092 Abbott Rd., Buffalo, N.Y. 14220 Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Public Works, Division of Engineering, to the position of Marina NO.75 Dock Attendant, Seasonal, at the flat starting salary of NOTICESOFAPPOINTMENTS-SEASONAL/FLAT $10.00/hr. I transmit herewith certificates received by me, reporting Michael J. Wolasz Jr., 53 Huntley Rd., Buffalo, NY 14215 seasonal and flat salary appointments made in various DEPARTMENT OF STADIUM AND AUDITORIUM departments. Appointment Effective June 4, 1998 in the Department of RECEIVED AND FILED. Stadium and Auditorium, Division of North Americare Park, to DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT the position of Laborer I, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the flat Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of starting salary of $6.22/hr. Assessment, to the Position of Clerk, Seasonal, Non-Christopher Spadafora, 1173 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY Competitive at the: Flat $5.20 / Hr. 14216 Florence A. Alesi, 791 Busti, Buffalo, NY 14213 DEPARTMENT OF STREET SANITATION DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT & CONTROL Appointment Effective May 21, 1998 in the Department of Appointment Effective 5/26/98 in the Department of Audit & Street Sanitation, to the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non- Control, Division of Real Estate, to the Position of Laborer I Competitive, at the flat starting salary of $6.92/hr. Seasonal, at the flat Starting Salary of $6.22 per hour Kevin Durawa, 184 Wellington Road, Buffalo, N.Y. 14216 Jennifer L. SanFilippo, 703 Parkside Avenue, Buffalo, New Appointments Effective May 25, 1998 in the Department of York 14216 Street Sanitation, to the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non- DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES Competitive, at the flat starting salary of $6.92/hr. Appointment Effective June 2, 1998 in the Department of' Terry Freeman, 410 Clinton St., Buffalo, NY 14204 General Services, Division or Inventory & Stores, to the Jack W. Gerard, 200 Roebling Ave., Buffalo, NY 14215 Position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the Flat Mark W. McKinnon, 325 Auburn Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213 Starting Salary of: $ 6.92 Matthew B. O'Grady, 212 Summit, Buffalo, NY 14214 Marcellus Osborne, 316 Hamburg St Apt 6, Buffalo, New York David M. Taylor, 49 Norway Park, Buffalo, NY 14215 14204 John Taylor, 214 Linden Avenue, Bflo, New York 14216 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, PARKS AND Edward Tooles, 26 Rose Street, Buffalo, New York 14204 RECREATION Appointment Effective May 26, 1998 in the Department of Appointment Effective June 2, 1998 in the Department of Street Sanitation, to the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non- Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Parks, to Competitive, at the flat starting salary of $6.92/hr. the position of Fee Collector, Seasonal, Non-competitive, at the James E. Quinn, 723 McKinley Pkwy., Buffalo, NY 14220 flat starting salary of $5.15/hr. Appointment Effective May 28, 1998 in the Department of Patricia Monaco, 168 Mariemont, Buffalo 14220 Street Sanitation, to the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non- Appointment Effective June 2, 1998 in the Department of Competitive, at the flat starting salary of $6.92/hr. Human Services, Parks and Recreation to the position of Matthew E. Frank, 184 University Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214 Laborer II, Seasonal, Non-competitive, at the Flat Starting Salary of $6.92/hr. NO.76 Joshua Humann, 26 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo 14222 APPOINTMENTS-TEMPORARY,PROVISIONALOR Appointment Effective June 2, 1998 in the Department of PERMANENT Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Parks, to I transmit herewith Appointments in the various the position of Fee Collector, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the departments made at the Minimum (Temporary, Provisional or Flat starting salary of $6.92/hr. Permanent) and for Appointments at the Maximum (as per Louis Dingeldey, 48 Sage, Buffalo 14210 contract requirements) . Appointment effective May 27, 1998 in the Department of REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE. Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Parks, to DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non-Competitive, at the flat Appointment Effective June 3, 1998 in the Department of starting salary of $6.92/hr. Administration and Finance, Division of Parking Enforcement Salvatore Cicatello, 90 Echhert, Buffalo 14207 to the Position of Junior Traffic Clerk, Permanent, at the Appointments Effective June 4, 1998 in the Department of Minimum Starting Salary of $21,917. Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Recreation, Kirk C. McKenna, 225 North Drive, Buffalo, NY 14216 to the position of Laborer II, Seasonal, Non-competitive, at the Appointment Effective June 8, 1998 in the Department of Flat starting salary of $ 6.92/hr. Administration and Finance, Division of Treasury, to the Melissa Smith, 239 Wallace, Buffalo 14216 position of Laborer I, Temporary, at the Minimum Starting Jose Ramirez, 37 Herkimer, Buffalo 14213 Salary of $19,982.00. Appointments Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Christopher VanVessem, 148 Woltz, Buffalo, NY 14212 Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Recreation, DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT Seasonal, Non-competitive, at the flat starting salary of $6.92 Appointment Effective June 3, 1998 in the Department of Steven Alvarez, 519 South Legion, Buffalo 14220 Assessment, to the position of Account Clerk-Typist, Regina Barrett, 65 Riverview Place, Buffalo 14210 Temporary, at the Minimum Starting Salary of $22,884. Derek Davis, 39 E Depew, Buffalo 14214 Donna Jean Chapman, 129 Floss Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215 Michael Karlinski, 349 Walden, :Buffalo 14211 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNTY DEVELOPMENT Joseph McMahon, 81 Briggs, Buffalo 14207 Appointment Effective June 8, 1998 in the Department of Appointments Effective June 4, 1998 in the Department of Community Development, Division of Inspections, Licenses, Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Recreation, Permits, to the Position of Plumbing Inspector, Provisional, at to the position of Supervising Lifeguard, Temporary, at the flat the Minimum Starting Salary of $34,654. starting salary of $5.98/hr. Gary Fazio, 20 McClellan Circle, Buffalo, New York 14220 Kathleen Kinney, 31 Marine Dr., Buffalo 14202 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Laura Quider, 146 Dearborn, Buffalo 14207 Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Appointment Effective May 26, 1998 in the Department of Public Works, Division of Buildings, to the Position of Painter, Human Services, Parks & Recreation, Division of Youth, Permanent, Non-Competitive, at the Minimum Starting Salary to the Position of Attendant, Temporary, at the flat starting of $ 26,849 salary of $5.15/hr. Russell A. Cottone, 56 Manchester Place, Buffalo, NY 14213 Reginald Hollis, 413 Eggert, Buffalo 14215 Appointment Effective May 26, 1998 in the Department of DEPARTMENT OF LAW Public Works, Division of Buildings, to the Position of Laborer Appointment Effective June 8, 1998 in the Department of Law, I, Permanent, Non-Competitive, at the Minimum Starting Salary to the position of Intern V, Seasonal, at the flat starting salary of of $9.57/hr. $8.00/hr. Joan E. Gulczewski, 67 Person Street, Buffalo, NY 14212 Jonathan M. Scibilia, 1044 Amherst Street, Buffalo NY 14216 Appointment Effective May 29, 1998 in the Department of Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Law, Public Works, Division of Engineering, to the position of Traffic to the position of Intern V, Seasonal, at the flat starting salary of Signal Specialist Supervisor I, Provisional, at the Minimum $8.00/hr. Starting Salary of $27,505. Brian M. Seachrist, 38 Brinton Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 Gerald E. Lewandowski, 173 Eden Street, Buffalo, NY 14220 Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of Law , DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, PARKS & RECREATION Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske, deputy police Commissoner Appointment Effective May 29, 1998 in the Department of John Battle Chief of Detectives Philip Ramunno and Captain of Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Parks, to Administrative Services Capt. Mark Antonio, do support the the position of Laborer II, Permanent, Non-Competitive, at the Cellblock personnel in their request for an upgrade. Minimum Starting Salary of $10.89/hr. The above named rank and file officers are those most familiar Jeffrey Dziedzic, 16 Glenn, Buffalo, NY 14206 with the cellblocks daily operations. Appointment Effective June 1, 1998 in the Department of We would appreciate your time and consideration in making Human Services, Parks and Recreation, Division of Parks, to this upgrade proposal an item before the honorable body of the the position of Park Utility Workers, Provisional, Promotion, at common council thank you in advance for your time sand the Minimum Starting Salary of $25,159. cooperation . Gaetano Agro, 540 Tacoma, Buffalo, NY 14216 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE , DEPARTMENT OF POLICE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, CORPORATION COUNSEL Appointment Effective June 2, 1998 in the Department of AND COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION AND Police to the Position of Laborer I, Permanent, Non-FINANCE. Competitive, at the Minimum Starting Salary of $9.57/hr. Daniel M. Woidula, 161 Cable St., Buffalo, NY 14206 NO.79 Appointment Effective May 24, 1998 in the Department of BUFFALOCHARTERREVISIONCOMMISSION Police, to the Position of: Senior Cellblock Attendant, THURSDAYMAY28,1998 Temporary, at the Minimum Starting Salary of $25,891. AGENDA Ellen M. Mann, 57 Pierce Street, Buffalo, NY 14206 1.Introduction of William M. Collins (resume enclosed as DEPARTMENT OF STREET SANITATION Document 9:00 A.M. No. 1 Appointment Effective March 31, 1998 in the Department of 2. Meeting with Commissioners Giambra (Public Works) and Street Sanitation, to the position of Street Worker, Permanent, Durawa 9:10 A.M. (Human Services, Parks and Recreation) Non-Competitive, at the minimum Starting Salary of $23,909. 3 . Business Meeting 10-20 A.M. Shannon V. Long, 2485 Niagara Street, Apt. #7, Buffalo, NY a. approval of minutes of Meeting of May 21 (enclosed, 14207 Document No. 2) Appointment Effective May 26, 1998 in the Department of b. report of Committee on Meetings with Department Heads Street Sanitation, to the position of Laborer II (Hrly), (Mr. Thomas) Permanent, Non-Competitive, at the Minimum Starting Salary c. report of Public Information Committee (Ms. Randaccio) of $10.45/hr. d. report of Committee on Academic and Pro Borlo Assistance Martin K. Eve, 90 North Parade, Buffalo, NY 14214 (enclosed, Document No. 3) (Mr. Magavern) e. request to Work Plan committee to consider coordination of NON-OFFICIALCOMMUNICATIONS,PETITIONSANDmeetings with elected officials, former city officials, and former REMONSTRANCES charter revision commission members, public information NON-OFFICIALCOMMUNICATIONS program, initial public hearings, and work of research task NO.77 forces in further development of Work Plan (Messrs. Wingate INNERHARBORPROJECT and Magavern) STATUSREPORT f. new business COM.58C.C.P.5/27/97 Note: Enclosed for review prior to our meeting with the This communication is intended to update the Common Commissioner of Community Development (to be scheduled) is Council on the status of the Buffalo Inner Harbor Project, as a summary by Chris Jacobs of the organization and functions requested by the Community Development Committee of that Department (Document No. 4). Chris will prepare pursuant to the Inner Harbor Funding Agreement between the similar summaries prior to our meetings with the other City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and the Department heads. Empire State Development Corporation. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION The Inner Harbor consultant team led by Jambekhar Strauss PC is in the process of completing the Master Plan phase of NO.80 the Project. BUFFALOCHARTERREVISIONCOMMISSION Based on the Inner Harbor Urban Analysis, key stakeholder NOTICEOFMEETING interviews, Targeted Use Workshops, and the Council's DATE:THURSDAY,JUNE4,1998 Community Development Committee's Recommended 1. Meeting with Commissioner Kerlikowske (Police Dept.) objectives for the Project, the Project team developed three 9:00 A.M. alternative plans for the Inner Harbor, refining the alternative 2. Business Meeting 10:20 A.M. Organizational Concepts previously submitted to the Common a. approval of minutes of Meeting of May 28 (enclosed, Council. The Inner Harbor alternatives were presented to the Document No. 1) Inner Harbor Technical and Community Advisory Committees b. report of Work Plan Committee (Mr. Wingate)Doc. 4 on March 17, 1998. A Public Presentation of the alternatives c. report of Public Information Committee (Ms. Ranclaccio) was made on March 23, 1998 at Waterfront School. Doc. #2 Following receipt of public comments on the alternative design d. New Business options, the Inner Harbor Project team has developed a (i) proposed meeting with Alan De Lisle, President, Buffalo preferred Inner Harbor Master Plan, combining the best Development Companies (Bishop Halton) elements of each of the design alternatives, in particular the (ii) other historic canal interpretation embodied in Alternative C and an #3 Summary of Police Charter Provisions interpretation of the historic street pattern in Alternative B. The #5 Charter Review Rec. Michael Risman preferred Master Plan reflects an historic interpretation of the REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION site's legacy as the original terminus of the Erie Canal, as requested by the Council's Community Development NO.81 Committee. The preferred Master Plan also provides for a GEICO series of intermodal transportation connections, including AUTOMOBILEINSURANCERATESINTHECITYOF transit, bus, auto, pedestrian, bicycles, and water-based BUFFALO transportation (e.g., water-taxes). The GEICO Group (hereinafter referred to as GEICO) is in A Public Presentation of the Preferred Master Plan is receipt of your letter dated May 13, 1998 and the Buffalo scheduled for June 17, 1998, Place: To Be Determined. Common Council Resolution #166 C.C.P May 12, 1998, and Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement is the letter has been referred to me for response. The GEICO continuing. A Public Hearing, pursuant to State Environmental Group is always concerned when any governmental entity feels Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and national there is a problem with the cost of automobile insurance. On Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements is tentatively behalf of the Company, I would like to take this opportunity to scheduled for September 1998. discuss some of the intricacies of the automobile insurance REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY industry in hopes of revealing the equity of GEICO's rates. DEVELOPMENT First and foremost, GEICO sets rates using cost based- pricing. Rates for a particular area are dictated by loss NO.78 experience. Put more simply, rates in one area will be higher if M.BETTINGER&0 there are more claims and/ or more expensive claims than REQUESTUPGRADE-CELLBLOCKPEACEOFFICERS another area with less losses and/or less expensive claims. DEARHONORABLEBODY A metropolitan area may be subdivided for rating purposes Enclosed is a copy of a proposal for an upgrade of all because a particular geographic subdivision has greater or less cellblock peace officers. Please take note that police losses than another. It would be inequitable to require one subdivision to subsidize the losses of another subdivision by Number 88.5-1-5.1 and 88.5-1-5.2 was recently added as a only having one rate for the whole metropolitan area. Class 4 in the Registry. The name and site I.D. number of this There is a myth that has perpetuated that must be addressed. property as listed in the Registry is Iroquois Gas/Westwood There is a common belief that suburban drivers operate their Pharm. Terrestrial, Site ID #915141 A. vehicles in urban areas and cause accidents that count against The Classification Code 4 means that the site is properly the loss experience of the urban area. This is completely closed -- requires continued management. untrue. The fact is an at-fault loss by a suburban driver in an We are sending this letter to you and others who own property urban area is counted as a loss to the suburban territory where near the site listed above, as well as the county and town the at-fault driver garages the vehicle. clerks. We are notifying you about these activities at this site The Council resolution makes a claim that there is disparity in because we believe it is important to keep you informed. rates of 40-50% for identical coverage between urban and If you currently are renting or leasing your property to someone suburban territories in the Buffalo area. GEICO's rates do not else, please share this information with them. If you no longer support this claim. GEICO divides the Buffalo metropolitan own the property to which this letter was sent, please provide area into three different territories, urban, semi-suburban, and this information to the new owner and provide this office with suburban. The basic bodily injury and property damage rates the name and address of the new owner so that we can correct in GEICO's urban territory are orgy 10% higher than its our records. suburban rates. GEICO's semi-suburban rates are lower than The reason for this recent classification decision is as follows: there suburban rates. The remedial construction is complete. Long-term Operation & In looking for a solution to the high cost of auto insurance, the Maintenance (O&M) of the containment and the pump and treat Council should look to the factors that drive up the average cost system is underway in accordance with an approved O&M of losses rather than merely looking at the resulting rates. Plan. The reclassification to "4" is, therefore, justified. This Fraud is a major component in the loss cost that an insurer site is one of two sites created by the segmentation of the must bear. Fraud is not limited to one particular area of original Site #91 5141 due to the completely different automobile insurance. Fraud can be perpetrated by anyone investigative and remedial activities currently underway. from medical providers, to repair shops, to claimants, to If you would like additional information about this site or the attorneys and so on even, unfortunately insurer personnel from inactive hazardous waste site remedial program, call: time to time. Because fraud is such a large part of loss cost, DEC's Inactive Hazardous Waste Site Toll-Free Information GEICO has a very active investigation unit which works closely Number 1-800-342-9296 or New York State Health with the Insurance Department's Fraud Bureau and with law Department's Health Liaison Program (HELP) 1-800-458-1158, enforcement to combat the problem and contain cost. The ext. 6402. council should work to aggressively attack insurance fraud in The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Buffalo. maintains a Registry of sites where hazardous waste disposal Additionally, the Council should contemplate supporting has occurred. Property located in the Scajaquada Creek, industry efforts at cost containment. One way to aid in upstream of the West Avenue Bridge in the City of Buffalo and reducing costs would be to endorse legislation that would give County of Erie was recently added as a Class 2 in the Registry. insurers the right to recommend a preferred repair shop. The name and site I.D. number of this property as listed in the Insurers currently cannot recommend a preferred shop Registry is Iroquois Gas/Westwood Pharm. Riparian, Site ID program unless first asked. Insurer preferred shops can #915141 B. contain costs, provide enhanced customer service and cut The Classification Code 2 means that a significant threat exists down on fraud. GEICO would propose further to guarantee to the public health or environment -- action required. repairs made in a preferred shop for as long as the insured We are sending this letter to you and others who own property owns the vehicle, at no added cost to the insured. Another cost near the site listed above, as well as the county and town saver for insurers would be the continuation of the current law clerks. We are notifying you about these activities at this site that authorizes insurers to offer a managed care option for no-because we believe it is important to keep you informed. fault coverage. GEICO currently offers such a managed care If you currently are renting or leasing your property to someone program and provides insures with a fifteen percent discount else, please share this information with them. If you no longer on no-fault coverage for choosing the program. own the property to which this letter was sent, please provide I hope that this letter has been helpful in explaining insurance this information to the new owner and provide this office with cost, particularly what drives them. GEICO hopes that the the name and address of the new owner so that we can correct Council reconsider the Resolution's request for territorial our records. modifications, and instead focus on those issues that drive up The reason for this recent classification decision is as follows: automobile insurance costs. The site is a 1600 foot long section of Scajaquada Creek The GEICO Group would like to take this opportunity to thank extending upstream from the West Avenue bridge. Iroquois the Council for the opportunity to comment on this important Gas (National Fuel Gas) operated a manufactured gas plant issue. during the early and middle part of the century in an area on the If there are any problems or further questions you may contact south bank of the creek near Dart Street. the wastes from the me at (301) 986-2643. plant operations entered the creek via discharges from the REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION piped outlets, spills, and movement of surface and groundwater. The creek sediments are contaminated with high NO.82 levels of PAHS (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) and BTEX BEVERLYA.GRAY (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene) and are the INSPECTIONVIOLATIONMR.CLIFTONGULLEY same as those found at the main (Terrestrial) site (915141 A. A 141WILLIAMSTREET. ROD (Record of Decision), signed in 1994, selected a site Today I received the attached letter from Mr. Gulley and the remediation to include removal of the contaminated stream violation from the Inspections Department. Mr. Gulley is sediments and off-site disposal. A Consent Decree issued by requesting that this complaint against the Inspections the Federal Court in 1 995 directed national Fuel Gas to Department of Community Development be filed with the City implement the remedy and remove the sediments to a Clerk's Office. maximum depth of six feet, as was found contaminated during Mr. Gulley is a hard working young man, who purchased a new the remedial investigations. This site is one of two sites built-home (M.J. Peterson Development Co.) that the wooden created by the segmentation of the original Site #91 5141 due pillars supporting the front of the home rotted were replaced by to the completely different investigative and remedial activities wrought iron pillars. Consequently the house numbers were currently underway. never put back on the house. If you would like additional information about this site or the Please notify Mr. Gulley as to when he will be heard in the inactive hazardous waste site remedial program, call: Council Chamber. DEC's Inactive Hazardous Waste Site Toll-Free Information REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY Number 1-800-342-9296 or New York State Health DEVELOPMENT AND COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY Department's Health Liaison Program (HELP) 1-800-458-1158, DEVELOPMENT. ext. 6402. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY NO.83 DEVELOPMENT NYSDEC REGISTRYOFSITES-HAZARDOUSMATERIALS-DARTNO.84 ST. NIMO The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) REFERENDUMONMUNICIPALELECTRICUTILITY maintains a Registry of sites where hazardous waste disposal SERVICE has occurred. Property located at Dart Street in the City of This letter is submitted in regard to the above item, which we Buffalo and County of Erie and designated as Tax Map were made aware of through the local media late last week. I can only reiterate and strengthen the points we have made are options available to the city that could bring benefits without with the Council at earlier dates, urging extreme caution in any the risks inherent with full takeover. As such, we respectfully effort that would commit the City to a costly, risky and ask the Council to move cautiously in this regard. protracted effort that very well would gain little or no benefit - As always, we remain eager to provide information and and perhaps increase costs for city residents. assistance when needed. Please call me 1. There is ample evidence to lead one to calculate at anytime at 857-4286. Thank you very much for your municipalization costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars, consideration. perhaps reaching or exceeding one billion dollars. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION The assessed value of our real property in the city is approximately $80 million. However, special franchise property NO.85 (which makes up much of the transmission and distribution A.PARLATO network necessary to run a utility) is assessed at another $156 MEDICALDRUGRIDERBENEFITSFORRETIREES minion (approx.). That brings the assessed value of our Please be advised that Tomas Parlato, Social Security NO network in the city to more than $235 million. 081-30-9099, has retained our Office. Mr. Partato was A municipality would then be faced with a large number of so-employed with the City of Buffalo from approximately June, called "start-up" costs, such as the creation of a meter reading 1967 through November, 1992. At the end of his tenure with system, a billing system, a collection system, maintenance and the City of Buffalo, Mr. Parlato held the position of repair facilities and systems, emergency response systems, Superintendent of Supplies 11. At the time of his retirement, and so on. Mr. Partato was offered an incentive package to retire, and When the City of Glens Falls studied this issue, its consultant Accepted the same. Mr. Parlatos retirement package was all found that such costs are generally about two-thirds of the in accordance with the agreement between The City of Buffalo acquisition costs. In Buffalo, that could result in startup" costs and Local 650 of the American Federation of State, County and of $150 million or more, to be added to the acquisition costs. Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO), such contract being effective (Glens Falls voters rejected the local law via referendum in from July 1,1992 through June 30, 1995, Section 6.3 on page November, 1996.) 17 of the contract indicates that all retirees shall receive upon Finally, recent regulatory and court rulings have allowed utilities retirement, until death, the plan. in effect the last day of service like Niagara Mohawk to seek fair recovery of stranded costs to the City. through an "exit fee" or other means. Although no exact exit As the above contract was effective and part of the retirement fee has been calculated in this case, such a fee could easily package, Mr. Parlato, was provided the benefits therein namely add several hundred million dollars to the overall cost of Major Medical Insurance Rider including full drug establishing a municipal electric utility. 2. If the talked about reimbursement. "savings" of 35-45 percent are calculated on an $80 million On or about May 22, 1998, Mr. Parlato received a note from takeover cost as quoted in the press, what savings would there Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Attached) that he no longer had be if the actual cost of establishing a municipal utility were the drug rider. As you can see, the new coverage is in $500 minion? $750 million? $1 billion or more? Is the city contradiction to the terms of the contract upon which the City prepared to assume such an enormous debt? and Mr. Parlato agreed upon his retirement. Accordingly, we 3. Forming a municipal utility at this time carries special risks. hereby formally request that Mr. Parlato's insurance benefits The industry nationwide is being deregulated. The City would be reinstated immediately and retroactively, as they were be forced to compete for customers, unlike municipal utilities previously agreed to at the date of his retirement. created years ago. Property tax revenues currently paid to the Please contact me at your earliest convenience to provide us city by Niagara Mohawk would have to be calculated into rates with the necessary documentation necessary to evidence the charged by a municipal utility. Likewise, revenues the city reinstatement receives from its local gross receipts tax against utility service In the event that the City of Buffalo chooses not to reinstate also must be calculated into those rates. Finally, the taxpayer-said benefits in a timely fashioned coverage is lost for any supported, low-cost power from the New York Power Authority period of time, we will not hesitate to pursue any and all action that is used by some many municipal utilities in this state is necessary to protect Mr. Parlato's rights and hold the City completely under contract, and no more is expected to be responsible for the costs associated therewith, including available for the next dozen or so years. At face value, reasonable attorney's fees. investor-owned utilities often do not compare favorably with REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE, existing municipal utilities. It must be remembered, however, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND DIRECTOR OF LABOR that most of the municipalities in New York were created RELATIONS decades ago under a completely different set of circumstances Of today. The simple fact remains that no community in New NO.86 York has completed such an effort since 1981, and that was H.BUSWELLROBERTS the only one we are aware of in the second half of this century. RESIGNATIONBOARDOFETHICS 5. Finally, where is the research that shows that Please accept my resignation from the City of Buffalo Board municipalization is the best option available to the city? Last of Ethics. I believe, simply, that it is time for me to step down. July, the Council approved a resolution creating an "Advisory It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my City. I am Committee on Municipal Electric Utility Service and Energy" deeply grateful for the opportunity which was afforded me. that was charged with studying "the issue of municipalization RECEIVED AND FILED and other alternative means to provide competitive power sources for the City of Buffalo...... which shall include NO.87 developing a feasibility study and, if necessary, a request for TCIOFNEWYORK,INC. proposals/qualifications to determine the best method..." The 750MHZREBUILDPROCESS resolution further stated that this committee was to report back We are writing to inform you that work on the 750 Mhz by June 1 of this year with a completed study. rebuild will begin the week of May 25, 1998. This process will To our knowledge, no such committee was ever formed, nor be in progress approximately 8 to 12 weeks. was a formal study ever completed. At the very least, a more We feel that it appropriate to notify you ahead of schedule so detailed analysis of potential costs should be conducted before that you can appropriately field phone calls you may receive. raising the issues before the voters. To date, we have had meetings with the Adelphia contractor - Frankly, we are very aware of the concerns with utility costs in Precision Valley Communications Corp.. This is the company the City and across the state. We, too, are concerned. High who will physically "walk out" the system. They have met with costs do not mean increased profits for Niagara Mohawk. our technical team to coordinate how this will happen. Instead, high costs mean loose of customers. That is why we Precision Valley will have very sophisticated equipment they will are proceeding with our PowerChoice plan that will bring at use to measure and record the structure of the Buffalo system. least modest price cuts (after three full years of a price freeze), If you have questions or would need additional information, and choice of energy supplier for some customers as soon as please call either of us at our respective phone numbers. this fall, and for all customers no later than the next 19 months. REFERRED TO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON While some view PowerChoice as unsatisfactory in terms of TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND OFFICE OF the price reductions, it is necessary to deal with the TELECOMMUNICATIONS. fundamental issues that drove price up, and unfortunately that solution has been time consuming and will be expensive. PETITIONS Obviously, any number of issues have surfaced in recent NO.88 months between the City and Niagara Mohawk. We would M.D.CRAMER&0,OWNER,PETITIONTOUSE185ALLEN hope that, despite some apparent philosophical differences, FORASIT-INREST.W/LIVEMUSIC. these issues could be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. On REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, THE the issue of municipalization, we remain convinced that there CITY PLANNING BOARD, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT No. 190, C.C.P., May 26, 1998, be and the same hereby is approved. NO.89 PASSED C.HAUNETAL,OWNERS,PETITIONTOUSE141AYES- 10 NOES- 1 BIDWELLFORASIDEWALKCAFE. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, THE FINANCE CITY PLANNING BOARD AND THE COMMISSIONER OF (DAVIDA.FRANCZYK,CHAIRMAN) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. NO.99 LEASE-CULLENINDUSTRIES-960BUSTI NO.90 (ITEMNO.19,C.C.P.,MAR.31,1998) NEWWESTBROOKPROPERTIES,OWNER,PETITIONTO That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to USE675DELAWAREFORASIDEWALKCAFE. the Common Council without recommendation. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, THE Mr. Franczyk moved: CITY PLANNING BOARD AND THE COMMISSIONER OF That the Comptroller be, and he hereby is authorized to take COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT all steps appropriate and necessary to assign a certain lease agreement made between the City and Cullen Industries, Inc., NO.91 (a/k/a Multisorb Technologies) and dated the 3rd day of T.KEOHANE,OWNER,PETITIONTOUSE487NIAGARASeptember, 1980 (the "Lease") to Cimin Construction Corp., FORAPOLESIGN. and/or to Cimininelli International Services, L.L.C. (collectively REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, THE the "Assignee"); and CITY PLANNING BOARD AND THE COMMISSIONER OF That the Mayor of the City is authorized to execute the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Estoppel Certificate in connection with said assignment of the Lease; and REGULARCOMMITTEES That the approval granted by the Common Council is CIVILSERVICE conditioned upon the satisfactory completion of the following (BEVERLYA.GRAY,CHAIRPERSON) conditions by the Assignee: NO.92 1. The Assignee shall have an area on the top floor of CITYSEXUALHARASSEMNTPOLICY their facility to be constructed at 960 Busti Avenue for the (ITEM#189C.C.P.MARCH31,1998) purpose of providing access for official use by the City of That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby Buffalo, which area shall be accessible at scheduled times to received. and filed. be determined at the mutual convenience of the parties. ADOPTED 2. The Assignee, subsequent to taking title to the real property located at 960 Busti Avenue and 990 Niagara Street, NO.93 shall provide landscaping to and shall maintain the landscaping APPOINTMENT upon a certain triangular parcel of land located directly across RESEARCHAID Niagara Street from the property which is subject of the Lease That Communication 63, May 12, 1998 be received and filed for as long as this Assignment remains effective. The City and the Permanent appointment of Mary Zizzo above at the shall grant the Assignee permission to enter upon this Intermediate salary $26,883.00 effective on May 4, 1998 is triangular parcel for the purposes of landscaping and hereby approved. landscape maintenance; and the City shall indemnify and hold PASSED harmless the Assignee from any and all claims arising from the AYES- 11 NOES- 0 installation of the landscaping or maintenance thereof 3. That Paragraph 4a of the above-referenced lease NO.94 shall be amended as follows: APPOINTMENT The said parcel shall not be used for the purpose of SUPERVISOROFBUILDINGCONSTRUCTION parking, storing, loading or unloading heavy trucks and/or That Communication 75, May 26, 1998 be received and filed tractor trailers. Parking of automobiles shall be for the and the Temporary appointment of Robert E. Katilus above at exclusive use of tenants of the building at 960 Busti Avenue the Intermediate salary $40,888.00 effective on May 26, 1998 and 990 Niagara Street. There will be no public parking nor is hereby approved. shall there be any parking fees allowed to be generated for PASSED parking on this site. AYES- 11 NOES- 0 4. That Paragraph 4c of the above-referenced lease shall be amended as follows: NO.95 Plans for any building of a temporary nature must be APPOINTMENT submitted to the City of Buffalo and its approval secured from BUILDINGPLANSINSPECTOR the City before construction of any such temporary building. That Communication 76, May 26, 1998 be received and filed 5. All other terms and conditions of the said Lease shall and the Temporary appointment of Michael Muscarella above at remain the same. the intermediate salary $37,373.00 effective on June 1, 1998 is PASSED hereby approved. AYES - 11 NOES - 0 PASSED AYES- 11 NOES- 0 NO.100 DISCH.FIN.-ASSIGNLEASE-CULLENIND.(#19,3/31) NO.96 (ITEM#188C.C.P.MAY26,1998) NOTICESOFAPPTS.-TERNP/PROV/PERM(CCLK) That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby (ITEM#96C.C.P.MAY26,1998) received and filed. That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby ADOPTED received and filed. ADOPTED NO.101 STATELEGISLATIONRELATINGTOLIMITEDINCOME NO.97 DISABLEDNYRPTL459(C) APPT.MACHINEOPERATOR(WATER)(INTER) (ITEMNO.29,C.C.P.,MAY31,1998) (ITEM#46C.C.P.MAY26,1998) That the Corporation Counsel be, and he hereby is That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby authorized to prepare a local law to provide a real property tax received and filed. exemption to persons with disabilities with limited income as ADOPTED specified in RPTL 459(C); and That the City Clerk be, and he hereby is authorized to NO.98 publish notice for a public hearing upon the completion of the SALARYORDINANCEAMENDMENT local law. ENTERPRISEFUND PASSED 98-0DIVISIONOFWATER AYES - 11 NOES - 0 013REPAIR&INSTALLWATERMETERS (ITEMNO.190,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) NO.102 That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to AUDIT-DEPT.OFADMINISTRATION&FINANCE(COMPT) the Common Council without recommendation. (ITEM#13C.C.P.APRIL14,1998) Mrs. LoTempio moved: That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That the Salary Ordinance Amendment as contained in Item received and filed. ADOPTED ADOPTED. NO.103 NO.111 REPLYTOAUDIT-TREASURY(A&F) PARKINGMETERS(A&F) (ITEM#72C.C.P.APRIL28,1998) (ITEM#82C.C.P.MAY26,1998) That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received and filed. received and filed. ADOPTED ADOPTED NO.104 NO.112 REPORTOFAUDIT-HSPR(COMPT.) D.ZUCHLEWSKI-LATEFEEONTAXES-533MILITARY (ITEM#9C.C.P.MAY12,1998) (ITEM#90C.C.P.MAY12,1998) That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received. and filed. referred to the Claims Committee. ADOPTED ADOPTED NO.105 NO.113 RESPONSE.TOAUDIT(HSPR) 533MILITARY-FEEONTAXES(ASMT) (ITEM#83C.C.P.MAY26,1998) (ITEM#21C.C.P.MAY26,1998) That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received and filed. referred to the Claims Committee. ADOPTED ADOPTED NO.106 NO.114 AUDIT-FIN.ASST.PROG.-FISCALYR. FORECLOSUREFEE-533MILITARY ENDINGJUNE1997 (ITEM#50C.C.P.MAY26,1998) (ITEM#16C.C.P.MAY26,1998) That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby referred to the Claims Committee. received and filed. ADOPTED ADOPTED NO.115 NO.107 JELLYSTONECAMPGROUNDINNORTHJAVA REPORTOFAUCTION-1446MAINSTREET (ITEMNO.171,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) (FORMERPRECINCT#6) That the Corporation Counsel look into the $800,000 grant- (ITEMNO.11,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) in-aid money for Jellystone, Campground in North Java; and That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to That this Common Council be updated as to the status of the Common Council without recommendation. the campground and the status of the city homes owned by Mr. Franczyk moved: Home Equity Living Plans (H.E.L.P.) and send a letter to That the offer from Mr. Harinder Brar, 151 Mapleleaf, H.E.L.P. and Norman Bakos to arrange a meeting date. Williamsville in the sum of Forty Thousand Dollars ADOPTED ($40,000.00) to purchase the property described as 1446 Main Street (Former Precinct #6), be and hereby is accepted; and NO.116 The buyer will be required to pay a ten percent (10%) buyer RENEWLEASE-FIRSTBAPTISTCHURCH-USEOF620 premium to Cash Realty and Auction; and HUMBOLDTPARKWAY That the Corporation Counsel be authorized to prepare the (ITEMNO.11,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) necessary documents for the transfer of title and that the Mayor That the Comptroller be, and he hereby is authorized to be authorized to execute the same, in accordance with the renew the lease between the City and Faith Baptist Church, for terms of sale upon which the bids were submitted. the use of 620 Humboldt Parkway, for a term commencing July PASSED 1, 1998 and to expire on June 30, 2003, with the conditions as AYES - 11 NOES - 0 listed in the above communication. Authorized the Corporation Counsel to prepare the necessary documents to renew said NO.108 lease and that the Mayor be authorized to execute the same. RESULTSOFNEGOTIATIONS-20MONTANA PASSED (ITEMNO.54,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) AYES - 11 NOES - 0 That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to the Common Council without recommendation. NO.117 Mr. Franczyk moved that the above item be recommitted to FORECLOSUREPROCESSANDFEE(ASMT) the Committee on Finance. (ITEM#20C.C.P.MAY26,1998) ADOPTED. That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received and filed. NO.109 ADOPTED RESULTSOFNEGOTIATIONS-266MYSTIC(ITEMNO.55, C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) NO.118 That the offer from Teresa and Juan Jimenez, residing at PAYPHONEAPPLICATIONS(5)HELLOPAYPHONES 318 Mystic Street, in the sum of One Thousand and Five (ITEMNO.41,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for the sale of 266 Mystic, be and That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he hereby hereby is accepted; and is authorized to deny licenses to Mr. Gohara Mohamed, of That the appraisal requested by the City of Buffalo shall be Hello Payphones, 672 Walden Avenue for payphones at 2131 paid by the purchaser; and Bailey Avenue, Broadway, southeast comer Detroit Street, That the transfer tax, recording fees and cost of legal Broadway, southwest comer of Detroit Street, Broadway, description shall be paid by the purchaser; and northeast comer Reed Street and 1445 East Delavan Avenue. That the Corporation Counsel be authorized to prepare the ADOPTED necessary documents for the transfer of title and that the Mayor be authorized to execute the same, in accordance with the NO.119 terms of sale upon which the offer was submitted. GREATLAKESCOLLECTIONBUREAUCONTRACT PASSED (ITEMNO.80,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) AYES - 11 NOES - 0 That the Comptroller and the Commissioner of Administration NO.110 and Finance be, and they hereby are authorized to enter into a RESULTSOFNEGOTIATIONS-22DIGNITYCIRCLE&413contract between the City and Great Lakes Collection Bureau EASTDELAVAN for the collection of past due parking and adjudication fines. (ITEMNO.61,C.C.P.,APR.28,1998) PASSED (ITEMNO.114,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) AYES - 11 NOES - 0 That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to the Common Council without recommendation. NO.120 Mr. Franczyk moved that the above item be recommitted to TRADE-INVEHICLE-PARKINGVIOLATIONS the Committee on Finance. (ITEMNO.81,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) That the Commissioners of Administration and Finance and 765ELMWOODAVENUE,L.P.,PETITIONTOUSE765 General Services be, and they hereby are authorized to trade-in ELMWOODFORASIT-IN/TAKE-OUTRESTAURANT(ITEM one (1) 1990 model Chevy with a Vulcan wheel lift, toward the NO.108,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) purchase of a four (4) wheel drive Chevy with fully hydraulic That after the public hearing before the Committee on Holmes wheel lift with dual winch. Legislation on June 2, 1998, the petition of 765 Elmwood PASSED Avenue, owner, for permission to use 765 Elmwood Avenue for AYES - 11 NOES - 0 a sit-in/take-out restaurant be, and hereby is approved with the following conditions: NO.121 1. No outside music on the patio is allowed and the BIDS-LASALLECONCESSIONSTAND patio will close at I 1:00 p.m. for one year. (ITEMNO.84,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) 2. Public Works must approve the overhang on the That the Commissioner of Human Services, Parks and patio. Recreation, be and he hereby is authorized to award a contract 3. Signage must be valid under the City Code. for the LaSalle Concession Stand to Raul H. Hernandez, the 4. No alcohol (liquor) is to be served without Common highest responsible bidder, in the amount of $1,400.00 Council approval. annually. PASSED PASSED AYES - 11 NOES - 0 AYES - 11 NOES - 0 NO.122 NO.128 BROADWAYMARKETLEASEAGREEMENT C.CARAIA-CHANGENAMEFROM (ITEMNO.183,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) BUSTITOFRONTPARK That the Mayor be, and he hereby is authorized to execute (ITEMNO.113,C.C.P.,APRIL14,1998) the lease between the City and Broadway Market Management That the above item be and the same is returned to the Corporation, for the Broadway Market, 999 Broadway, for a Common Council without recommendation. term of five (5) years to 2003 with an automatic extension of A public hearing has been set, before the Common Council, five (5) additional years. at this regularly scheduled meeting, on the above item, and a PASSED Notice of same has been published in the Buffalo News for two AYES - 11 NOES - 0 consecutive weeks, a copy of which is attached hereto. On a motion by Mrs. LoTempio, seconded by Mr. NO.123 Zuchlewski, the item is properly before the Common Council, 41STANNUALALLENTOWNOUTDOORARTFESTIVAL and the hearing is opened. (ITEMNO.200,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) CARRIED. That-the above item be, and the same hereby is retained to Appearances - the Common Council without recommendation. In Favor: Jose Palmer, Jr., 639 Busti Avenue Mrs. LoTempio, moved: Mark Mitskovski, 637 Busti Avenue That the above item be and same hereby is received and Carmen Palmer, 639 Busti Avenue filed. Mrs. LoTempio moved that the hearing be closed. Seconded ADOPTED. by Ms. Kavanaugh. CARRIED. LEGISLATION Mrs. LoTempio now moved that, after the required public (ALFREDT.COPPOLA,CHAIRMAN) hearing held by this Common Council, the above item be NO.124 recommitted to the Committee on Community Development. RAMESHCHAINANI,PETITIONTOUSE1116ELMWOODSeconded By Mr. Manley. FORANOUTDOORPATIO ADOPTED (ITEMNO.105,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) That after the public hearing before the Committee on NO.129 Legislation on June 2, 1998, the petition of Ramesh Chainani, DRAFTGRAFFITIORDINANCE owner, for permission to use II 6 Elmwood Avenue for an (ITEMNO.227,C.C.P.,FEBRUARY17,1998) outdoor patio be, and hereby is approved with the following That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to conditions: the Common Council without recommendation. 1. No outside music is allowed to be played. 2. No outside receptacles should be placed. Mr. Coppola moved that the above item be recommitted to 3. The outdoor patio must close by 12:00 a.m. the Committee on Legislation. PASSED ADOPTED. AYES - 11 NOES - 0 NO.130 NO.125 GRAFFITIORD.(CD) IRISHPROPANECORP.,PETITIONTOUSE218(ITEM#60C.C.P.MARCH3,1998) KATHERINEFORPROPANECYLINDERPROCESSING That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby (ITEMNO.106,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) received and filed. That after the public hearing before the Committee on ADOPTED Legislation on June 2, 1998, the petition of Irish Propane Corp., owner, for permission to use 218 Katherine for propane NO.131 cylinder processing be, and hereby is approved. GRAFFITIORD.(CC) PASSED (ITEM#53C.C.P.MARCH26,1998) AYES - 11 NOES - 0 That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received. and filed. NO.126 ADOPTED HARBOURPLACEMARINAS,INC.PETITIONTOUSE 2192NIAGARASTREET-SIT-INRESTAURANT NO.132 (ITEMNO.107,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) PROPOSEDLANDMARKDESIGNATION That after the public hearing before the Committee on -FIREENGINEHOUSE#2 Legislation on June 2, 1998, the petition of Harbour Place HOOK&LADDER#9 Marinas, Inc., owner, for permission to use 2192 Niagara (ITEMNO.5,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) Street for a sit-in restaurant be, and hereby is approved with That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to the following conditions: the Common Council without recommendation. 1 . There will be no encroachment onto the City Mr. Coppola moved: easement on the south end of the property. That after the public hearing held before the Committee on 2. No music will be allowed on the second floor outdoor Legislation on May 19, 1998, Fire Engine House #2 and Hook seating area. and Ladder #9 at 3 1 0 Jersey Street be designated as a local 3. A ten foot (10") strip of greenspace along the historic landmark, pursuant to Article III, Section 337-9 through Riverwalk will be planted and maintained. 12 of the Preservation Standards of the Buffalo Code; and PASSED That this designation is made upon due consideration of the AYES - 11 NOES - 0 reports of the Buffalo Preservation Code (Chapter 337 of the Buffalo Code) and for the reasons set forth in the reports of the NO.127 Buffalo Preservation Board and its Landmark Designation Committee; and received and filed. That the Secretary of the Preservation Board be, and hereby ADOPTED is directed to file the property description with the City Clerk, the Planning Board, the Division of Planning and with the NO.137 Department of Public Works; and ORD.AMEND.CH.137-CODEENFORCEMENT That the Petitioner is directed to file a description or map of (#169-12/23) the property with the Eire County Clerk's Office. (ITEM#129C.C.P.MAY12,1998) PASSED That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby AYES - 11 NOES - 0 received and filed. ADOPTED NO.133 KREHBIELASSOCIATES,FORWESTERNAUTO,NO.138 PETITIONTOREZONE2751BAILEY E.TUTTLE&0.-INSTALLALLWAY (ITEMNO.114,C.C.P.,APR.14,1998) CONTROL/TUDOR&WESTFERRY That the Common Council of the City of Buffalo does hereby (ITEMNO.110,C.C.P.MARCH31,1998) ordain as follows: That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby That that part of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of received and filed. Buffalo, Section 511-126 of Article XXV of Chapter 511 as it ADOPTED relates to the use map thereof be amended to show a "C2" Commercial District rather than an "R2" Residential for the NO.139 premises known as 2751 Bailey Avenue more particularly INSTALLALLWAYSTOPCONTROL described as follows: ATTUDOR&W.FERRY(PW) ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the (ITEM#38C.C.P.APRIL28,1998) City of Buffalo, County of Erie and State of New York, being That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby part of Farm Lot 45, Township 11 and Range 7 of the Holland received and filed- Land Company's Survey and being all of Lot Numbers 2207, ADOPTED 2208, 2240, 2241 and the westerly fifteen feet of Lot 2209 as shown on Map Number 3 of The Lang Field Subdivision by NO.140 Albert Krause and Son, CE and Surveyor, dated February, LIQUORLICENSEAPPLNS.(CCLK) 1929 and recorded in the Erie County Clerk's Office June 4, (ITEM#85C.C.P.APRIL28,1998) 1929 in Map Cover 1493 and being more fully bounded and That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby described as follows: received and filed. BEGINNING at a point in the southerly line of Langfield ADOPTED Drive, 125.00 feet east of the intersection of the easterly line of Bailey Avenue with the southerly line of Langfield Drive; thence NO.141 easterly along the southerly line of Langfield Drive, 80.00 feet to DELAWARECASINOLIQUORLICENSE(CC) a point, being the northeasterly comer of said Sublot 2240; (ITEM#52,C.C.P.MAY261998) thence southerly along the easterly line of Sublot 2240, at an That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby interior angle of 89'-39'-47", 110.00 feet to a point; thence received and filed. easterly at an exterior angle of 89-39'-47", 5.00 feet to a point; ADOPTED thence southerly at an interior angle of 89’-39'-47", 110.00 feet to a point in the northerly line of Erskine Avenue; thence NO.142 westerly along the northerly line of Erskine Avenue at an interior CHANGEALTERNATEIPARKINGCHANGEOVERTIME angle of 90’-20'-13", 85.00 feet to a point, being the (ITEMNO.167,C.C.P.,MAY12,1998) southwesterly comer of Sublot 2207; thence northerly along the That in fairness to all city residents, the Common Council westerly lines of Sublots 2207 and 2241 at an interior angle of hereby directs the Commissioner of Public Works to change 89'-39'-47", 220.00 feet to the point of beginning, being 18,150 the Alternate I parking regulations changeover time from 4:00 square feet or 0.4167 acres of land, to be the same more or p.m. Sunday and Wednesday to 9:00 p.m. less. ADOPTED This rezoning shall be effective providing the following conditions are met: NO.143 That this rezoning shall not be effective unless and until a RELOCATEBROADWAYGARAGE(C.P.BD.) certified copy thereof has been filed by the petitioner in the (ITEM#7C.C.P.MAY261998) offices of the Erie County Clerk's Office and proof of such filing That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby is submitted to the City Clerk's Office. received and filed. That this rezoning will not be effective until such conditions ADOPTED as set by the City Planning Board are met. That this Common Council finds this action to be an NO.144 Unlisted Action under the S.E.Q.R. Act and adopts petitioner's NOTIFICATIONSERIALS#9006-9010 findings such that no further environmental review is required (ITEM#22C.C.P.MAY261998) under said Act. That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby It is hereby certified, pursuant to Section 34 of the Charter received and filed. that the immediate passage of the foregoing ordinance is ADOPTED necessary. Approved as to Form NO.145 Michael B. Risman ENCROACH115CHICAGOSTREET-SIDEWALKCAFE Corporation Counsel (ITEMNO.36,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) PASSED. That the above item be, and the same hereby is returned to AYES-11. NOES-0. the Common Council without recommendation. NO.134 Mr. Coppola moved: RZ2751BAILEY(C.P.BD.) That the Commissioner of Public Works be, and he hereby (ITEM#7C.C.P.APRIL28,1998) is authorized to issue a “mere license" to Mr. Daniel Crawford, That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby owner of Kitty O'Malleys Pub, located at 115 Chicago Street, to received and filed. install a sidewalk cafe, which would encroach city right-of-way ADOPTED at said address, subject to the following conditions: 1. That the applicant obtain any and all other City of NO.135 Buffalo permits necessary. PUBLICHARASSMENTOFCITYEMPLOYEES 2. That the sidewalk cafe be installed exactly as shown (ITEM#209C.C.P.JANUARY20,1998) on plans submitted to and approved by the Department of That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby Public Works, Division of Buildings. received and filed. 3. That the sidewalk cafe does not exceed eight feet ADOPTED (8') in length or extend more than six feet (6') from the building face. NO.136 4. That no portion of the sidewalk cafe be permanent in HARASSMENTOFCITYEMPLOYEES(CC) nature or permanently affixed to the main building or public (ITEM#54,C.C.P.MAY261998) sidewalk. That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby 5. That the sidewalk cafe be completely removed from City right-of-way from November 15 to April I each year. DISCHARGEOFITEM29-CCP-JUNE3,1998"TRANS. 6. That the applicant be assessed the annual fee of TITLE-UHP-PORTION-335GLENWOOD" $1.30 per square foot of City right-of-way occupied by said Whereas: Item 29 - CCP - June 3, 1998 - "Trans. Title - sidewalk cafe as described in Chapter 413, Article IX, Section UHP - Portion - 335 Glenwood" is presently before the 59 (Sidewalk Cafes) of the City Ordinances. Committee on Community Development; and 7. That the applicant supply the City of Buffalo with a Whereas: It is no longer necessary for this item to be five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) construction in street bond or considered by that committee; certificate of insurance which will indemnify and save harmless Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That: the City of Buffalo against any and all loss and damage arising This Common Council does hereby discharge the Committee out of the construction, maintenance, use and removal of said on Community Development from further consideration of Item sidewalk cafe. 29 - CCP June 3, 1998 - "Trans. Title - LTHP - Portion - 335 PASSED Glenwood" and said item is now before the Council. AYES - 11 NOES - 0 CARRIED Mrs. LoTempio moved: NO.146 That the city-owned property commonly known as a portion of SIDEWALKCAFE-1116ELMWOOD 335 Glenwood Street, is hereby designated as Homestead (ITEM#37C.C.P.MAY261998) Property, and that the Mayor be, and he hereby is authorized to That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby execute a deed transferring said property to Mrs. Letha Jones, received and filed. residing at 21 Dupont Street, for the amount of $ 1.00 (One ADOPTED Dollar), and all costs of transfer on the condition the property is cleared and improved within six (6) months and maintained in a NO.147 sanitary manner. LOCATIONOFFUELTANKS(GS) PASSED (ITEM#85C.C.P.MAY261998) AYES- 11 NOES- 0 That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby received and filed. NO.155 ADOPTED BY: MR.COPPOLA APPOINTLEGISLATIVEASSISSTANTTOCOUNCIL NO.148 MEMBER CHARTERREVISIONCOMM.-MTG.MINUTES Now, Therefore Be It Resolved: (ITEM#98C.C.P.MAY261998) That Courtney L. Coppola, 121 Lancaster, Buffalo, New York That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby 14222, is hereby appointed as Legislative Assistant to Council received and filed. Member Alfred T. Coppola effective Monday, June 1, 1998. ADOPTED ADOPTED NO.149 NO.156 ORDINANCEAMENDMENT-CHAPTER137-CODEBY: MR.FONTANA ENFORCEMENT BILLBOARD236ELK (ITEMNO.192,C.C.P.,MAY26,1998) Whereas: The petition to use 236 Elk Street for a Billboard That the Ordinance Amendment as contained in Item No. was previously denied by this Council (C.C.P. 105, February 192, C.C.P., May 26, 1998, be and the same hereby is 17, 1998); and approved. Whereas: The petitioner, Elk Smith Properties, has asked for a PASSED reconsideration of the Item; and AYES - 11 NOES - 0 Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: That this Common Council change its previous action from COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT Deny to Approve granting Elk Smith Properties the use of 236 (DALEZUCHLEWSKI,CHAIRMAN) Elk for a billboard; and NO.150 Be It Further Resolved: AUDITREPORT-BFLO.NEIGHBORHOODREVITAL.That the fee for resubmission of this application be waived for CORP. Elk Smith Properties. (ITEM#19C.C.P.JULY81998) PASSED That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby AYES- 11 NOES- 0 received and filed. ADOPTED NO.157 BY:MR.FRANCZYK: NO.151 BONDRESOLUTION BNRC-ANNUALSINGLEAUDITFISCALY/E6/30/97(CD) $2,500,000BONDS (ITEM#48C.C.P.MARCH171998) CONSTRUCTIONMAIN-LASALLEROADWAY That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby ACCOUNT200-717 received and filed. Bond Resolution of the City of Buffalo, New York, authorizing ADOPTED the issuance of $2,500,000 General Improvement Bonds of said City to finance the cost of construction of a new roadway NO.152 between Main and LaSalle Streets, in the Main-LaSalle RFP-MKT.ARCADECINEMA-DERNO.LOC.FORRevitalization Project Area, located within the City's University CAPITALBUDGET(CD) Heights District, at the estimated total cost of $2,500,000. (ITEM#49C.C.P.MAY121998) The Common Council of the City of Buffalo, in the County of That the above mentioned item be and the same is hereby Erie, New York, hereby resolves (by the favorable vote of not received and filed. less than two-thirds of all the members of said Common ADOPTED Council) as follows: Section 1. The Comptroller of the City of Buffalo, in the County NO.153 of Erie, New York, is hereby authorized and directed to issue TRANSFEROFTITLE,URBANHOMESTEAD-PORTIONGeneral Improvement Bonds of said City in the principal OF649WOODLAWN(ITEMNO.60,C.C.P.MAY26,1998) amount of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars That the city-owned property commonly known as 649 ($2,500,000), pursuant to the provisions of the Charter of said Woodlawn, is hereby designated as Homestead Property, and City and the Local Finance Law, constituting Chapter 33-a of that the Mayor be, and he hereby is authorized to execute a the Consolidated Laws of the State of New York (the "Law"), to deed transferring the westerly half of said property to Mr. and finance the cost of construction of a new roadway between Mrs. James Poole, residing at 651 Woodlawn, for the amount Main and LaSalle Streets, in the Main-LaSalle Revitalization of $1.00 (One Dollar), and all costs of transfer, on the condition Project Area, located within the City's University Heights the property is cleared and improved within six (6) months and District,. The estimated total cost of said specific object or maintained in a sanitary manner. purpose for which the bonds authorized by this resolution are to PASSED be issued, including preliminary costs and costs incidental AYES- 11 NOES- 0 thereto and the financing thereof, is $2,500,000 as set forth in the duly adopted Capital Improvements Budget of said City for RESOLUTIONS fiscal year 1997-98, as amended. NO.154 Section 2. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized by BY:MR.BROWNANDMR.ZUCHLEWSKI this resolution, or any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation of the sale of said bonds shall be deposited in the Capital Projects Fund to the credit of the Department of Public Capital Projects Fund to the credit of the Department of Works, Division of Buildings, "Shea's Reconstruction/Repair Community Development, Division of Development, Women's Rest Room, 1997-98, 11 Account No. 200402, and "Infrastructure Improvements-Main-LaSalle, 1997-98", Bond shall be used for the purpose specified in Section 1 of this Authorization Account No. 200-717, and shall be used for the resolution. specific object or purpose specified in Section I of this Section 3. The City intends to finance, on an interim basis, the resolution. costs or a portion of the costs of said improvements for which Section 3. The City intends to finance, on an interim basis, the bonds are herein authorized, which costs are reasonably costs or a portion of the costs of said improvements for which expected to be incurred by the City, pursuant to this Bond bonds are herein authorized, which costs are reasonably Resolution, in the maximum amount of $97,916. This expected to be incurred by the City, pursuant to this Bond resolution is a declaration of Official Intent adopted pursuant to Resolution, in the maximum amount of $2,500,000. This the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.150-2. Resolution is a declaration of Official Intent adopted pursuant Section 4. The following additional matters are hereby to the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1. 150-2. determined and stated: Section 4. The following additional matters are hereby (a) Said building is of at least Class "B" construction, as determined and stated:. defined by Section 11.00 a.11(b) of the Law and the period of (a) The period of probable usefulness applicable to the specific probable usefulness applicable to the specific object or object or purpose for which the bonds authorized by this purpose which the bonds authorized by this resolution are to be resolution are to be issued within the limitations of Section issued, within the limitations of Section 11.00 a.12(a) (2) of the 11.00 a. 20. (c) of the Law, is fifteen (15) years. Local Finance Law, is fifteen (15) years. (b) Current funds are not required by the Law to be provided as (b) Current funds are not required by the Law to be provided as a down payment prior to the issuance of the bonds authorized a down payment prior to the issuance of the bonds authorized by this resolution or any bond anticipation notes issued in by this resolution or any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation thereof in accordance with Section 107.00 d. 9. of anticipation thereof in accordance with Section 107.00 d. 9 of the Law. Section 5. Each of the bonds authorized by this the Law. resolution and any bond anticipation notes issued in Section 5. Each of the bonds authorized by this resolution and anticipation of the sale of said bonds and the renewals of said any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation of the sale of notes shall contain the recital of validity prescribed by Section said bonds and the renewals of said notes shall contain the 52.00 of the Local Finance Law. Said bonds and said notes recital of validity as prescribed by Section 52.00 of the Local shall be general obligations of the City of Buffalo payable as to Finance Law. Said bonds and said notes shall be general both principal and interest by a general tax upon all the taxable obligations of the City of Buffalo payable as to both principal real property within said City without limitation as to rate or and interest by general tax upon all the taxable real property amount. The faith and credit of said City are hereby irrevocably within said City without limitation as to rate or amount. The pledged for the punctual payment of the principal of and faith and credit of said City are hereby irrevocably pledged to interest payment of interest on and for the amounts required for the punctual payment of the principal of and interest on said the amortization and redemption of said bonds and said notes. bonds and said notes. Provision shall be made annually by Section 6. The validity of the bonds authorized by this appropriation by said City for the payment of interest on and for resolution or any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation the amounts required for the amortization and redemption of of the sale of said bonds may be contested only if: said bonds and said notes. (a) Such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for Section 6. The validity of the bonds authorized by this which the City of Buffalo is not authorized to expend money, or resolution or any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation (b) The provisions of law which should be complied with at the of the sale of said bonds, may be contested only if: date of the publication of this resolution are not substantially (a) such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for complied with, which the City of Buffalo is not authorized to expend money, or and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity, is (b) the provisions of law which should be complied with at the commenced within twenty days after the date of such date of the publication of such resolution are not substantially publication, complied with, or and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity, is (c) Such obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions commenced within twenty days after the date of such of the constitution. publication, or Introduced: June 9, 1998 (c) such obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions LAID ON THE TABLE of the constitution. Introduced: June 9, 1998 NO.158 LAID ON THE TABLE BY:MR.FRANCZYK BONDRESOLUTION NO.159 $97,916BONDS BY:MR.FRANCZYK RECONSTRUCTIONSHEA'SRESTROOMACCOUNTNO.INCREASEDAPPROPRIATION 200-402 NORTHARMERICAREPARK Bond Resolution of the City of Buffalo, New York, authorizing That, Pursuant to Section 41 of the Charter and the the issuance of $97,916 General Improvement Bonds of said Certificate of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the City, to finance the cost of partial reconstruction of Shea's Common Council, the appropriation in the budget for the Center for the Performing Arts, at the estimated maximum cost current fiscal year for Appropriation Allotments - North of $97,916. Americare Park be and the same hereby is increased in the The Common Council of the City of Buffalo, in the County of sum of $8,080. Erie, New York, hereby resolves (by the favorable vote of not That, the comptroller be and hereby is authorized and directed less than two-thirds of all the members of said Common to transfer the sum of $8,080 from Enterprise Fund North Council) as follows: AmeriCare Park 420-899002 - Reserve for Replacements to Section 1. The Comptroller of the City of Buffalo, in the County meet this increased appropriation as set forth below: of Erie, New York (herein called "City") , is hereby authorized From: 420 Enterprise Fund - North AmeriCare Park and directed to issue General Improvement Bonds of said City 899002 Reserve for Replacements $8,080 in the principal amount of Ninety-Seven Thousand Nine To: 420 Enterprise Fund - North AmeriCare Park Hundred Sixteen Dollars ($97,916), pursuant to the provisions 611- North Americare Park, 031 - Mechanical Services of the Charter of said City and the Local Finance Law, 560 Building Repairs & Alterations $8,080 constituting Chapter 33-a of the Consolidated Laws of the State PASSED of New York (the "Law"), to finance the cost of partial AYES- 11 NOES- 0 reconstruction of Shea's Center for the Performing Arts, including reconstruction of the women's restroom. The NO.160 estimated maximum cost of said specific object or purpose for BY:MR.FRANCZYK which the bonds authorized by this resolution are to be issued, TRANSFEROFFUNDS including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and the MISCELLANEOUSCHARGES financing thereof, is $97,916 as set forth in the duly adopted DEPARTMENTOFCOMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT Capital Improvements Budget of said City for fiscal year 1997- That pursuant to section 42 of the Charter and the Certificate 98, as amended. of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the Common Section 2. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized by Council, the sum of $140,000 be and the same is hereby this resolution, or any bond anticipation notes issued in transferred from the Miscellaneous Charges and said sum is anticipation of the sale of said bonds, shall be deposited in the hereby reappropriated as set forth below: From: 100 - General Fund Branch Library $1,000,000 812 - Miscellaneous Charges, RECEIVED AND FILED 818 Reserve for Matching Fund Grants $140,000 To: 100 General Fund, NO.165 71 Department of Community Development, BY:MR.FRANCZYK 2 - Division of Neighborhoods, TRANSFEROFFUNDS 021 - Office of Neighborhoods, VARIOUSDEPARTMENTS 580 - Non-Professional Personal Services $140,000 REFUSE&RECYCLING PASSED. That pursuant to section 42 of the Charter and the Certificate AYES-11. NOES-0. of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the Common NO.161 Council, the $1,068,581 be and the same is hereby transferred BY:MR.FRANCZYK from the Various Departments and said fair is list TRANSFEROFFUNDS reappropriated as set forth below: COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT-BONDFUNDS From: 100 General Fund DEPARTMENTOFPUBLICWORKS-BONDFUNDS 40-2 Division of Buildings That pursuant to section 42 of the Charter and the Certificate 021 - Administrative Services of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the Common 574 - Services - Refuse Disposal $373.577 Council, the sum of $20,323.94 be and the same is hereby 812 - Miscellaneous Charges transferred from the Department of Community Development - 574 - Services - Refuse Disposal $ 185,004 Division of Development - Capital Projects Fund and said sum 70-0 - Division of Streets is hereby reappropriated as set forth below: 013 - Cleaning of Streets &, Snow Removal From: 200 Capital Projects Fund 11O - Salaries - Regular $370,000 71 - Department of Community Development 032 - Building &, Fleet Maintenance 7 - Division of Development 11O - Salaries - Regular $140,000 074 - Reconstruction Broadway Market $20,323.94 TO: 100-8 18-000-00-053 Transfer to Enterprise Fund To: 202 Capital Projects Fund Refuse Recycling $ 1,068,581 40 - Department of Public Works From: 2 - Division of Buildings 100-818-000-00-053 Transfer to Enterprise Fund 002 - Renovations Broadway Market $20,323.94 - Refuse & Recycling $1,068.581 PASSED. To: AYES-11. NOES-0. 450 - Enterprise Fund - Solid Waste NO.162 70-1 - Division of Solid Waste &, Recycling BY:MR.FRANCZYK (011 - Collection of Refuse &, Recycling TRANSFEROFFUNDS 574 Services Refuse Disposal $1,068,581 DIVISIONOFACCOUNTING PASSED COMPTROLLER AYES- 11 NOES- 0 That pursuant to section 42 of the Charter and the Certificate of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the Common NO.166 Council, the sum of $2,648 be and the same is hereby By: Ms. Gray transferred from the Division of Accounting and said sum is SETPUBLICHEARINGONWATERMETERING hereby reappropriated as set forth below: PROGRAM. From: 100 General Fund, 04-2 Division of Accounting Whereas: A New City Water Meter Program will 001 - Accounting require all City homeowners to have meters to measure their 110 - Salaries - Regular $2,648 water usage; and To: 100 General Fund Whereas: This system will be good for the 04-0 - Comptroller environment by encouraging people to conserve water; and 001 - Comptroller Whereas: However, a raising number of community 570 - Financial & Accounting Services $2,648 organizations and residents have questions regarding how this PASSED program will affect them; and AYES- 11 NOES- 0 Whereas: A public hearing on this subject will give the residents if the City of Buffalo an opportunity to understand NO.163 how the meter program functions and may ease the concerns BY:MR.FRANCZYK and fears of homeowners; TRANSFEROFFUNDS Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: DIVISIONOFACCOUNTING That the City Clerk is hereby directed to publish with the COMPTROLLER appropriate medias a notice of a Public Hearing to be held on That pursuant to section 42 of the Charter and the Certificate Tuesday, June 30, 1998 at 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. in the Council of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the Common Chambers. Council, the sum of $7,590 be and the same is hereby REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, transferred from the Division of Accounting and said sum is BUFFALO WATER BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC hereby reappropriated as set forth below: WORKS AND AMERICAN ANGLICAN. From: 100 General Fund 04-2 Division of Accounting NO.167 001 - Accounting By: Councilmember Kevin J. Helfer 11O -Salaries - Regular $7,590 APPOINTMENTOFANNAGUSTINA,LEGISLATIVE To: 100 General Fund ASSISTANT 04-0 - Comptroller I hereby appoint Anna Gustina, 111 University Avenue, 085 - Exempt Items Buffalo, New York, to the position of Legislative Assistant for 982 - Office Equipment & Furnishing $7,590 the University District, effective June 1, 1998. PASSED. ADOPTED AYES-11. NOES-0. NO.164 NO.168 BY:MR.FRANCZYK By: Ms. Kavanaugh CAPITALBUDGETAMENDMENT MEMORIALIZESTATESENATEONSEXUAL CHANGETOCAPITALPROGRAM1997-98 ORIENTATIONNON-DISCRIMINATIONACT That pursuant to section 359 of the Charter and the Whereas: The people of Buffalo have long Certificate of the Mayor and the Comptroller submitted to the recognized the need to protect their fellow citizens who are gay Common Council, the Capital Program for the fiscal year 1997-and lesbian from prejudice and bigotry, as evidenced by the 98 be and the same is hereby amended by eliminating one item Common Council passage almost 15 years ago of an and adding the following item under the heading: Ordinance prohibiting the City from discriminating on the basis Eliminate of sexual orientation; and 200 Capital Projects Whereas: In 1993, this Common Council called 402 Division of Buildings upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation Construction of Urban Arts Center $1,000,000 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Add 200 Capital Projects employment, housing, credit, education and public 402 Division of Buildings accommodations; and Construction of New North Jefferson Whereas: The New York State Assembly has passed the Sexual Orientation NonDiscrimination Act Whereas: The purpose of this system is to increase (SONDA) each year for the past 6 years, and again passed it the efficiency with which items are filed for consideration by the on May 18, 1998 by a vote of 87 to 53; and Buffalo Common Council; and Whereas: The New York State Senate has never Whereas: Under the current system, items must be voted on SONDA before, but on May 26, 1998 the Senate submitted to the City Clerk's Office, then copied so that Government Operations Committee voted 11 to 1 to release the Councilmembers and various other officials receive a copy of Act, also known as Senate Bill 425B, out of committee; and each item for the Common Council meeting; and Whereas: A majority of the Senators have publicly Whereas: The Open Image System would provide pledged to support SONDA if the Senate leadership allows it to Councilmembers and others throughout City Hall with come before them for a vote; and immediate electronic access to items which are filed for Whereas: By passing SONDA, the Senate will make consideration by the Common Council; and New York a leader once again among the states, joining the 10 Whereas: Officials from the Division of Data other states that protect gays and lesbians from discrimination, Processing report that one version of the Open Image System including our neighbors Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut was already installed, but users found it very difficult to use, and New Jersey; and a new version will be installed in the near future; Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: That the Buffalo Common Council opposes discrimination That this Common Council requests that City Comptroller against gays and lesbians, and supports passage of the Sexual Joel Giambra and the Division of Data Processing provide a Orientation NonDiscrimination Act, Senate Bill 42513; and written report on the status and costs associated with the Be It Further Resolved: implementation of the Open Image System; and That the City Clerk forward a Certified Copy of this Be It Further Resolved: Resolution to the Clerk of the New York State Senate and all That the requested report be filed with the City Clerk's Senators in the Western New York delegation. Office, Room 1308 City Hall, by 2:00 pm on Thursday, June ADOPTED 18, 1998; and Be It Finally Resolved: NO.168 That Comptroller Giambra and a representative of the By: Ms. Kavanaugh and Mr. Franczyk Division of Data Processing be prepared to address the Buffalo CREATINGANEXEMPLARYANIMALSHELTERFORTHECommon Council to provide an update on the status and costs CITYOFBUFFALO associated with the implementation of the Open Image System. Whereas: In 1989, the City of Buffalo requested and REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE received an evaluation by the Humane Society of the United COMPTROLLER. States (HSUS) of the City's former Niagara Street animal shelter and this evaluation recommended moving the shelter to NO.171 a more suitable facility which the City did by relocating to the By: Mrs. LoTempio present Oak Street location; and EXCUSECOUNCILMEMBERHELFERFROMCOUNCIL Whereas: The HSUS report also detailed numerous MEETINGSONJUNE9,1998,ANDJUNE23,1998 deficiencies in the operations of the Buffalo Animal Shelter and Whereas: Councilmember Kevin Helfer was recently made recommendations which the City never implemented; and accepted to the Program for Senior Executives in State and Whereas: Nearly ten years later the Buffalo Animal Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Shelter continues to operate without the benefit of a Government at Harvard University; and professionally trained staff, a humane education program, or an Whereas: This program will provide Councilmember organized volunteer program (currently volunteers can only Helfer with the opportunity to network with other senior greet members of the public); and executives at the state and local levels of government from Whereas: The Buffalo Animal Shelter continues to throughout the United States; and operate without a professional adoption program which would Whereas: This program, which represents a once- include adoption screening and a mandatory spay and neuter in-a-lifetime opportunity, runs from June 7 until June 26, 1998; policy; and Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: Whereas: Numerous professionally produced That Kevin J. Helfer is excused from attending the Common studies have shown that animal shelters which are run Council meetings on June 9, 1998, and June 23, 1998. according to the highest humane standards result in not only ADOPTED more humane treatment of animals but also in long-term financial savings to municipalities by decreasing the number of NO.172 unwanted, abandoned or lost animals which the shelter must By: Mrs. LoTempio handle; and ORDINANCEAMENDMENT Whereas: Both the citizens of Buffalo and stray or CHAPTER137-CODEENFORCEMENT unwanted animals in Buffalo deserve an exemplary animal The Common Council of the City of Buffalo does hereby shelter; and ordain as follows: Whereas: The Erie County Society for the That Chapter 13 7-7 of Chapter 13 7 of the Code of the City Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) runs an exemplary of Buffalo be amended to read as follows: animal shelter with pro-active professional care and programs Fine Initial Additional Maximum based on the highest humane standards; and FINE CLASS A $10.50 $10.50 $10.50 $31.50 Whereas: The City of Buffalo should be committed [*Bakers and Confectioners - Chapter 88 - Section 2] to the goal of establishing a genuinely humane, exemplary [*Exhibitor - Chapter 463 - Section 7(B)] animal shelter and can achieve this goal by entering into a [*Certificate of Inspection - Chapter 75 - Section 14(b)] dialogue with the SPCA to obtain guidance on program [*Pet Shop - Chapter 263 - Section 24(A)] implementation and to discuss the possibility of developing a [*Sign Permit - Chapter 387 - Section 8(A)] partnership with the SPCA to provide services such as training [*Temporary Stand - Chapter 370 - Section 2] and consultation at the Buffalo Animal Shelter; [*Vending Machines - Chapter 483 - Section 2] Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: [*Tow Truck - Chapter 454 - Section 2] That the Commissioner of Street Sanitation and his staff Fine Initial Additional Maximum who run the Buffalo Animal Shelter appear at the Legislation FINE CLASS B $30.00 $30.00 $30.00 $90.00 Committee on Tuesday, June 16, 1998 to discuss the policies *Bakers and Confectioners - Chapter 88 - Section 2 of the Buffalo Animal Shelter; and *Exhibitor - Chapter 463 - Section 7(B) Be It Further Resolved: *Certificate of Inspection - Chapter 75 - Section 14(b) That a representative from the Erie County SPCA also be *Pet Shop - Chapter 263 - Section 24(A) invited to the June 16, 1998 Legislation Committee meeting. *Sign Permit - Chapter 387 - Section 12 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, *Signs - Erection, repair, alteration or removal businesses - COMMISSIONER OF STREET SANITATION AND SPCA Chapter 387 - Section 14 *Temporary Stand - Chapter 370 - Section 2 NO.170 *Vending Machines - Chapter 483 - Section 2 By: Ms. Kavanaugh *Tow Trucks - Chapter 454 - Section 2 REQUESTUPDATEONINSTALLATIONOFTHEOPEN It is hereby certified, pursuant to Section 34 of the Charter of IMAGESYSTEM the City of Buffalo, that the immediate passage of the foregoing Whereas: Various City departments, including the ordinance is necessary. City Clerk's Office and the Division of Data Processing, have Approved As to Form been working for approximately one year to implement the Michael B. Risman Open Image System for the City of Buffalo; and Corporation Counsel Note: Matter in [] to be deleted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended to Matter underlined is new. limit the usual and customary operations of "Sidewalk cafes" as REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION AND defined in Section 413-59 of the Code of the City of Buffalo- DIRECTOR OF LICENSES AND PERMITS. and Be It Further Resolved That: NO.173 That radio and television broadcasts from remote broadcast By: Mrs. LoTempio units located outside of a building normally occupied by a radio COUNCILMEMBERBARBARAA.MILLER-WILLIAMSISor television station may be permitted within the events area by EXCUSEDFROMTHEJUNE9,1998COUNCILMEETING. the event sponsor. No such remote broadcasts or telecasts Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: shall be permitted on the public streets or out-of-doors on That Councilmember Barbara A. Miller-Williams be excused adjacent private property without the permission of the event from attendance at the stated Common Council meeting of sponsor. In no case shall any radio or television station employ June 9, 1998. blaring loudspeakers or conduct giveaways, sale of ADOPTED merchandise, contests, displays or other promotional activities beyond what is broadcast or telecast over their airwaves in the NO.174 public street or out-of-doors on adjacent private property during By Mrs. LoTempio the hours of the event; and DISCHARGECOMMITTEEOFTHEWHOLE Be It Finally Resolved: CAMPAIGNAGAINSTRATS Unauthorized participants. The AVS shall provide all ITEMNO.65CCP,MAY12,1998 participants with suitable identification showing each as an Whereas, the above item is currently tabled in the authorized participant in the event. Except as herein above Committee of the Whole and provided, there shall be no other participants within the events Whereas, it is no longer necessary for this item to be area during the event whether on public streets or out-of-doors considered by that Committee, on adjacent private property, including exhibitors, Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that this Common Council concessionaires, vendors, performers, promotional activities, does hereby discharge the Committee from further fund raising activities, displays or goods or otherwise. Street consideration of this item, and the item is now before the performers, buskers or similar performers or performances Common Council for its consideration. shall not be permitted within the events area. All temporary CARRIED. inflatable devices used to advertise or direct attention to a Mrs. LoTempio now moved that the above item be referred to business, service, product or activity shall also be excluded the Committee on Legislation. from the events area. ADOPTED The property of Ascension Church at 16 Linwood Avenue and Westminster Church at 724 Delaware Avenue shall not be NO.175 subject to the foregoing provisions, provided, however, that By: Mr. Quintana and Mrs. Miller-Williams neither shall conduct or sponsor any out-of-door activities 41STANNUALALLENTOWNOUTDOORARTFESTIVAL during the Art Festival event hours without prior approval of the Whereas: The Allentown Village Society, Inc. (AVS), Common Council. The above-mentioned shall not conduct or has requested permission to conduct its 41st Annual Allentown sponsor any outdoor amusement rides or art and craft show Outdoor Art Festival on the weekend of June 13th and 14th, and the third resolved clause of this resolution governing radio 1998, and and television broadcasts and telecasts shall also be applicable Whereas: The Special Events Advisory Committee, on those properties. established pursuant to Chapter 414, Special Events, will meet PASSED to consider the application of AVS to hold the said 41st Annual AYES - BROWN, COPPOLA, FONTANA, FRANCZYK, Allentown Outdoor Art Festival; and KAVANAUGH, LOTEMPIO, MANLEY, PITTS, QUINTANA, Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved That: ZUCHLEWSKI - 10 NOES - GRAY - 1 Subject to the additional conditions to be established by the Special Events Advisory Committee and those stated herein NO.176 the AVS be and it hereby is granted permission to conduct the By: Mr. Quintana 41st Annual Allentown Outdoor Art Festival on the weekend of PERMISSIONFORWESTSIDEGOSPEL June 13th and 14th, 1998, between the hours of I 1:00 a.m. CENTERTOUSECITY-OWNEDLOTS and 6:00 p.m. on those days; within the events area bounded Whereas: The West Side Gospel Center is located by Summer Street on the north, Elmwood Avenue and South at 372 Connecticut Street in the City of Buffalo; and Elmwood Avenue (east side) on the west, Tracy Street Whereas: 368 and 370 Connecticut Street are City- (extended easterly) on the south, and Main Street (west side) owned vacant lots which are contiguous to the property on the east; and occupied by the West Side Gospel Center; and Be It Further Resolved That: Whereas: The West Side Gospel Center has asked Participants within the events area, whether on the public the City of Buffalo Department of Community Development, streets or out-of-doors on adjacent private property, will be Division of In-Rem, for permission to use the City-owned limited as follows: vacant lots at 368 and 370 Connecticut Street on a temporary 1. Art or craft exhibitors may be located within the basis; and events area on the following streets only: Delaware Avenue Whereas: The West Side Gospel Center has between North Street and Tupper Street (east and west sides); specifically requested that they be allowed to use this City- Franklin Street between Allen Street and Virginia Street (east owned property for eight (8) Friday night services and four (4) and west -sides); Allen Street from Elmwood Avenue to Saturday Bible School sessions during the months of July and Franklin Street (north and south sides); Virginia Street between August, 1998; West Side Gospel Center officials note that Delaware Avenue and Franklin Street (north and south sides). these events will be open to the public; and Only art and craft exhibitors selected through the AVS Whereas: In lieu of paying rent, the West Side application and selection process shall be permitted. The AVS Gospel Center will clean, grade, and seed the lots at 368 and will select no more than 465 art and craft exhibitors, excluding 370 Connecticut Street; and therefrom the exhibition or sale of so-called "pseudo" art and Whereas: The West Side Gospel Center will also exhibits of a strictly commercial nature. provide liability insurance coverage, at its own expense, to hold 2. Concessionaires and vendors within the events area the City of Buffalo harmless from liability for any accident or shall be located on the following streets only: Delaware Avenue injury which may occur while the West Side Gospel Center is in the block between North and Allen Streets, in the block using this City-owned property; between Allen and Virginia Streets; in the vicinity of Edward Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: Street between Virginia and Allen Streets; and Allen Street in That the Buffalo Common Council recommends granting the vicinity of Franklin Street, on Allen Street between Park permission for the West Side Gospel Center to use the City- Street and Elmwood Avenue. Such participant owned property at 368 and 370 Connecticut Street for eight (8) concessionaires shall be responsible concessionaires to be Friday night services and four (4) Saturday Bible School selected by the AVS. The AVS may select and designate a sessions during the months of July and August, 1998; and single vendor employing a reasonable number of persons to Be It Further Resolved: vend balloons in the events area. The AVS may also select That this permission will not involve rental charges provided and designate a single vendor to produce and sell Art Festival that the West Side Gospel Center fulfill its agreement to clean, T-shirts, sweatshirts or similar merchandise within the deemed grade, and seed the lots at 368 and 370 Connecticut Street; concession areas. All participant concessionaires and vendors and are required to comply with all otherwise applicable licensing Be It Finally Resolved: and health requirements. That this agreement is also pursuant to any conditions set forth by the Commissioner of Public Works and Corporation Holiness Church, the members and pastor of the church Counsel. worked to obtain their valuable and necessary church PASSED equipment, which was housed in the building at the time of the AYES -11 NOES 0 demolition; and Whereas: According to Bishop Montgomery, City NO.177 Officials mistakenly demolished the building, and that the call By: Mrs. Williams for an emergency demolition was unauthorized and GREATERREFUGETEMPLECHRISTIAN unnecessary; and ACADEMY5KRUNANDCARNIVAL Whereas: Bishop Montgomery Pastor of HolyGhost Whereas: On July 9th, 10th, 11th, the Greater Headquarters #1, claimed the building was in the process of Refuge Temple will be holding a benefit carnival as a being repaired and remodeled. He claimed, the church did not springboard to the opening of it's Family Life Center; and suffer from a fire or have structural damage which would cause Whereas: During this three day festival their will be a harm to the surrounding community; and 3. 5 mile run to raise funds for the Christian Academy, which is Whereas: The demolition crew proceeded to take to open in September of 1998; and down the structure without cause, according to Bishop Whereas: This events will be enlightening to the Montgomery. He also claims, he was never contacted by City neighborhood to showcase the upcoming events plan for this Officials to verify whether or not the church removed its particular area in terms of education and housing opportunity; property from the building; and and Whereas: The City of Buffalo was recently accused Whereas: In connection with this event , the Greater for attempting to raze a Historical Designated building in the Refuge Temple Church is requesting permission from this downtown area. These accusations made by Bishop Honorable Body to erect a banner across Jefferson Ave. and Montgomery against the City must be formally investigated; and Best St. facing northerly, from July 1, 1998 to July II, 1998 to Whereas: A formal investigation will determine if this promote this special event. property was in fact mistakenly demolished, and if the property Now, Therefore Be It Resolved That: was demolished without proper authorization or notification to This Honorable Body grant permission to Greater Refuge the owner. Temple Church to erect said banner during the dates and at Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: the aforementioned location; and That the Common Council request the Mayor's Task Force Be It Further Resolved That: on Housing, Department of Community Development, This banner be erected in accordance with any regulations Department of Inspection, Corporation Counsel, and City of and restrictions as may be imposed by the Buffalo Police Buffalo Housing Court, to formally review and investigate these Department, and Corporation Counsel, and the Department of accusations and file a formal report with this Council. Public Works. REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, PASSED COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND AYES -11 NOES 0 CORPORATION COUNSEL. NO.178 NO.180 By: Ms. Williams By: Ms. Williams INVESTIGATEBUSINESSLOCATEDAT REQUESTPERMISSIONTOINSTALLPLANTERSIN 893JEFFERSONAVENUE. ELLICOTTDISTRICTHOMEOWNERSHIPZONE. Whereas: In the City of Buffalo, many church Whereas: The Bennett Park Montessori Center and groups and community residents are working to improve the several neighborhood organizations have teamed up to create a neighborhood through various community projects; and Neighborhood Garden Beautification Project in the Ellicott Whereas: However, in the Ellicott District there exist District; and an auto repair shop located at 893 Jefferson Avenue near Whereas: This project was recently funded through Cayuga Street, which despite repeated requests from Mayor Masiello's Neighborhood Matching Fund Program; and concerned citizens to improve the condition of the business, it Whereas: Approximately 50 flower baskets will be continues to be a eye sore and a detriment to the community; located on Clinton Street from Michigan Avenue to Jefferson and Avenue, including several blocks within the Towne Gardens Whereas: According to the City Licensing Apartment Complex; and Department, no licenses have been issued for any type of Whereas: The flower baskets will be made by business at this address. It is also not known if the owners Montessori students, community members and parents, and obtained a permit to operate or if this business has ever been will involve the creation of a perennial and naturalized bulb inspected by the Buffalo Fire Department; and garden in front of the Montessori school; and Whereas: In an effort to maintain the stability and Whereas: In a effort to beautify the neighborhood safety of the neighborhood and to continue the growth of the and promote community friendship, Bennett Park Montessori community an investigation of all questionable business at this has requested permission to hang flower planters on light posts address must be required by the City; and in the designated area; Whereas: It is also important that any business Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: located in the Ellicott District be neighbor friendly by keeping That this Common Council grant permission to Bennett Park their property clean and environmentally safe; Montessori Center to hang flower planters subject to any Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: conditions set forth by the Department of Public Works and the That this Honorable Body request the City of Buffalo Fire Corporation Counsel. Inspector, the Department of Inspections, Department of PASSED Permits, Department of Assessments and the Department of AYES -11 NOES 0 Parking Violation to conduct a formal inspection and investigation on the status and legality of this business; NO.181 REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, By: Ms. Miller-Williams COMMISSIONER OF FIRE, COMMISSIONER OF SETPUBLICHEARING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMISSIONER OF SOUTHELLICOTTPHASE2 ASSESSMENT, AND COMMISSIONER OF PORTIONOF289EXCHANGESTREET1.9ACRES ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. WHEREAS, Acquest Holdings, Inc. and/or other legal entity to be formed (herein referred to as the "Redeveloper") NO.179 has been duly designated as qualified and eligible Redeveloper By: Ms. Williams in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by the REQUESTCITYOFBUFFALOTOINVESTIGATECity of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency; and EMERGENCYDEMOLITIONOFPROPERTY. WHEREAS, the City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency Whereas: On Saturday, April 11, 1998, the property and the Redeveloper has negotiated a Land Disposition located at 733 Genesse Street, was demolished at the request Agreement for the disposition of a portion of 289 Exchange of the City of Buffalo; and Street in the South Ellicott Phase 2 Urban Renewal Area; and Whereas: Bishop W.T. Montgomery Sr., Pastor WHEREAS, the terms of said Land Disposition HolyGhost Headquarters #1 claimed he never received Agreement have been approved by the City of Buffalo Urban notification by the City of Buffalo Housing Court or City Renewal Agency; and Inspectors that this property was in need of emergency WHEREAS, said Land Disposition Agreement has demolition; and been forwarded by the City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency Whereas: Before the demolition, this building was to this Common Council for action, pursuant to section the home of the HolyGhost Headquarters #1, Miracle Valley 507, subdivision 2(d) of the General Municipal Law; and WHEREAS, Article 15A of the "General Municipal on display would be from June 30th through July 20, 1998, and Law" requires that the disposition of land in an Urban Renewal Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved: Project may be approved only after a public hearing on due That the Sponsors of the Suburu Buffalo 4 Mile Chase be notice. granted permission to hang a banner on Elmwood Avenue from NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: June 30th through July 20, 1998. 1. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to PASSED publish the notice attached hereto and marked "Notice of AYES -11 NOES 0 Hearing" in the Buffalo News, no later than the 13th day of June 1998. NO.185 2. That this Common Council will conduct a By: Mr. Zuchlewski Public Hearing on the matter stated SUBURUBUFFALO4MILECHASE in said "Notice of Hearing" at 2:00 P.M. in the Council Whereas: the organizers of the 18th annual Suburu Chambers on the 23th of June, 1998. Buffalo 4 Mile Chase have requested permission to conduct ADOPTED their annual race on Saturday, July 18th along Elmwood Avenue, and NO.182 Whereas: in the past, there have been problems with By: Mrs. Miller-Williams various individuals and/or vendors setting up and selling PERMISSIONTOHANGZIONDOMINIONC.O.G.I.C.inappropriate wares, and BANNER Whereas: through the sale of inappropriate wares, Whereas: The Zion Dominion Church Of God In neighborhood merchants suffer adversely from this Christ will be inviting people from all over the country to attend competition, and a dedication service of their newly refurbish and revitalize Whereas: neighborhood merchants would not be house of worship; and expected to have a permit and would be allowed to sell their Whereas: This site, after numerous years of neglect goods as they normally would on a daily basis, and and dormancy was scheduled for demolition and now has been Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved: reconstructed and restored to become one of the premier sites That the area bounded by Forest to St. James and of progress in the downtown area of the City of Buffalo; and Richmond to Delaware be a designated area in which Whereas: Representatives from the church have neighborhood merchants are allowed, as always, to sell their requested permission to utilize two street light post in wares and that illegal vendors be prohibited from soliciting celebration of this event , to hang a banner across Genesse during this event. Street in front of Zion Dominion Church, located at 360 PASSED Genesse Street from Wednesday, June 10, 1998 through AYES -11 NOES 0 Wednesday, July 15, 1998. Now therefore be it resolved that NO.186 This Common Council grants permission to the Zion By Mr. Zuchlewski Dominion Church to hang a banner celebrating their dedication FELICITATIONS/INMEMORIAM ceremony, on Genesse Street in front of Zion Dominion Church Attached hereto are Felicitation and In Memoriam located at 360 Genesse Street from ,,Wednesday, June 10, Resolutions sponsored by Members of the Common Council as 1998 through Wednesday, July 15, 1998 providing the banner indicated: meet all requirements of all pertinent city departments and Felicitation for EPIC violate no existing laws or ordinances. By Councilmember Pitts PASSED Felicitation for Bennett Park Montessori Center AYES -11 NOES 0 By Councilmember Williams ADOPTED NO.183 By: Mr. Zuchlewski NO.187 LIQUORLICENSE-U.S.FOODSDELI-235ESSERAVE.] By: Mr. Zuchlewski Whereas: on Friday, May 22 , the owner of the APPOINTMENTS aforementioned deli was arrested by Buffalo Police for selling COMMISSIONEROFDEEDS alcohol to a minor, and That the following persons are hereby appointed as Whereas: officers reported that they observed a Commissioner of Deeds for the term ending December nineteen year old male leaving the store with a 12-pack of 31,1998 , conditional upon the person so appointed certifying Labatt's Blue beer, and under oath to their qualifications and filing same with the City Whereas: officers questioned the youth and found Clerk: out that he purchased the beer from the store owner and had Terrence J. Mescall not been asked for proof of age, and Carla S. Mingarelli Whereas: this store and its owners have had a long Barbara Overhorff list of various charges brought against them in the last couple James E.Turner of years, and Philip Best Whereas: included in these charges was another Elizabeth M. Paray charge for selling alcoholic beverages to a minor, and Arthur Eve,Jr. Whereas: deli operators who sell alcoholic Daniel J. Ryan beverages must be issued a license from the New York State Rickey T. Donovan Liquor Authority, and Edward W. Jasinski,Jr. Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved: Mary A. Kaye That because of the ongoing problems association with this ADOPTED deli, this Council feels that it is not in the best interest of the community that alcohol is allowed to continue being sold at this NO.188 deli, and be it further By: Mr. Zuchlewski Resolved: APPOINTMENTS That the New York State Liquor Authority immediately revoke COMMISSIONEROFDEEDS the license for U.S. Food Mart at 235 Esser Avenue so no REQUIRED-PERFORMANCEOFPUBLICDUTIES alcoholic beverages can be sold at this deli. That the following persons are hereby appointed as ADOPTED Commissioner of Deeds for the term ending December 31,1998 , conditional upon the person so appointed certifying, NO.184 under oath, to their qualifications and filing same with the City By: Mr. Zuchlewski Clerk: SUBURUBUFFALO4MILECHASE-BANNER Courtney L. Coppola Whereas: Organizers of Suburu Buffalo 4 Mile Karyn Elizabeth Connolly Chase will be sponsoring this race which Andrew T. Rusiniak will be held on Saturday, July 18th, and Sarah M. Martin Whereas: This year marks the 18th annual run, and ADOPTED Whereas: To publicize the event, the Race Director has requested permission to display a banner across Elmwood UNFINISHEDBUSINESS Avenue from 946 Elmwood Avenue to 951 Elmwood Avenue, NO.189 and BONDRES.-$300,000-RECONST.S.DISTR.BLDGS. Whereas: The period in which this banner would be (NO.185,C.C.P.MAY26,1998) Mrs. LoTempio moved that the above item be taken from the NO.3 table. The following annuitants were canceled from the roll: Seconded by Mr. Manley. Eleanor Felicetta Died 4/18/98 CARRIED Franklin C. Haas Died 4/29/98 Mrs. LoTempio now moved the approval of the above item. Edna Rohde Died 5/10198 Seconded by Mr. Manley RECEIVED AND FILED. PASSED NO.4 AYES -11 NOES 0 On motion by Mr. Masiello, the City of Buffalo Police and Fire Pension Board Meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m. NO.190 BONDRES.-$500,000-RECONST.NIAGARAFALLS BLVD. (NO.186,C.C.P.MAY26,1998) Mrs. LoTempio moved that the above item be taken from the table. Seconded by Mr. Manley. CARRIED Mrs. LoTempio now moved the approval of the above item. Seconded by Mr. Manley. PASSED AYES -11 NOES 0 NO.191 BONDRES.-$1,000,000-COSTURBANARTSCTR. (NO.187,C.C.P.MAY26,1998) Mrs. LoTempio moved that the above item be taken from the table. Seconded by. Mr. Brown. CARRIED Mrs. LoTempio now moved the approval of the above item. Seconded by Mr. Brown. PASSED AYES -11 NOES 0 NO.192 ANNOUNCEMENTOFCOMMITTEEMEETINGS The following meetings are scheduled. All meetings are held in the Council Chambers, 13th floor, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, unless otherwise noted. Regular Committees Civil Service -Tuesday, June 16, 1998,9:30 o'clock A.M. Finance -Tuesday, June 16, 1998 following Civil Service Legislation -Tuesday, June 16, 1998 at 2: 00 o'clock P.M. Community Dev.-Wed., June 17, 1998, 10:00 o'clock A.M. Education-Wednesday June 17, 1998 at 2:00 o'clock P.M.. Ancillary Meetings Special meeting on Claims, Wednesday, June 10, 1998 at 2:00 o'clock P.M. in Council Chambers. Special meeting on Taylor Impasse, Wednesday, June 10, 1998 at 3:00 o'clock P.M. in Room 1417. Special meeting of the Super Span Task Force, on Thursday, June 11, 1998 at 2:00 o'clock P.M. in Room 1417. Special meeting of the Office of Telecommunications, Friday, June 12, 1998 at 10:00 o'clock A.M. N0.193 ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Mrs. LoTernpio, Seconded by Ms. Kavanaugh the Council adjourned at 3:17 P.M. CHARLES L. MICHAUX, III CITY CLERK BOARDOFPOLICEANDFIREPENSION PROCEEDINGS#5 MAYOR'SOFFICE-201CITYHALL MAY21,1998 Present:; Anthony M. Masiello, Mayor; Joel A. Giarnbra, Comptroller-2 Absent: James W. Pitts, Council President -1 The Journal of the last meeting was approved. NO.1 I transmit herewith the Pension Payroll for the Fire Pension Fund for the month of May 1998 amounting to $23,653.43, and respectfully request that checks be drawn to the order of the persons named herein for the amounts stated. ADOPTED AYES-2. NOES-0. NO.2 I transmit herewith the Pension Payroll for the Police Pension Fund for the month of May 1998 amounting to $25,519.95, and respectfully request that checks be drawn to the order of the persons named herein for the amounts stated. ADOPTED. AYES-2. NOES-0.