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Home My WebLink About15-0501ssSPECIAL SESSION May 1, 2015 AT 3:00 P.M. 1. Call for Special Session R &F 2. Mayor's Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Budget Overview R &F 3. Mayor's Four Year Financial Plan R &F 4. Mayor's Budget Recommendations 2015 -2016 COW 5. Adiourn R &F COMMON COUNCIL CITY HALL — BUFFALO SPECIAL SESSION May 2, 2015 At 3:00 p.m. Present: Darius G. Pridgen President of the Council, and Council Members Fontana, Franczyk, Golombek, LoCurto, Rivera, Scanlon, Smith -8 Absent: Wyatt -1 NO. 1 CALL FOR SPECIAL SESSION April 28, 2015 Mr. Gerald A. Chwalinski City Clerk 1308 City Hall Buffalo, New York Dear Mr. Chwalinski: Pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of Five Councilmembers, dated April 28, 2015 presented to you herewith, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Common Council to be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, on May 1, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. for the following purpose: To receive and take appropriate action on all items regarding: Mayors Recommended Budget 2015 -2016 Yours very truly, Darius G. Pridgen President of the Council RECEIVED AND FILED May 1, 2015 TO EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMON COUNCIL YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that, pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, upon the written request of Five Councilmembers, dated April 28, 2015, DARIUS G.PRIDGEN, President of the Common Council, has called a Special Meeting of the Common Council, to be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Buffalo, New York, on May 1, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. for the following purpose: To receive and take appropriate action on all items relating to Mayors Recommended Budget 2015 -2016 Yours very truly, Gerald A. Chwalinski City Clerk April 28, 2015 Hon. Darius G. Pridgen President Common Council 1315 City Hall Buffalo, New York Dear Sir: WE, the undersigned, members of the Common Council, hereby request that you call a Special Meeting of the Common Council, pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Charter of the City of Buffalo, for the following purpose: To receive and take appropriate action on All Items Relating To 1.) Mayors Recommended Budget 2015 -2016 We request that this Special Meeting be held on May 1, 2015 at 3:00 PM Rasheed NC Wyatt David A Franczyk Michael J LoCurto Demone Smith David A Rivera Pursuant to Rule 2 of the Rules of Order of the Common Council of the City of Buffalo, each of the following named members of the Common Council, to wit: RICHARD A. FONTANA DAVID FRANCZYK JOSEPH GOLOMBEK MICHAEL LOCURTO DAVID A. RIVERA CHRISTOPHER P. SCANLON DEMONE SMITH RASHEED N.C. WYATT hereby states that he received twenty -four (24) hours' notice of the time and purpose of the Special Meeting of the Common Council duly called to be held on May 1, 2015 at 3:00 P.M. Rasheed NC Wyatt David A Rivera David A Franczyk Christopher P Scanlon Michael J LoCurto Joseph Golombek Jr Demone Smith Richard Fontana STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF ERIE) ss: CITY OF BUFFALO) On this 28th day of April 2015, before me, the subscribers, personally appeared To me known to be the same persons described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and they duly and severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same. Gerald A. Chwalinski Commissioner of Deeds, in and for the City of Buffalo, N.Y. My Commission expires 12/31/16 NO. 2 MAYOR'S FISCAL YEAR 2016 -2016 BUDGET OVERVIEW City of Buffalo Fiscal Year 2015 -2016 Budget Overview A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN Since coming into office, we've made the tough decisions necessary to propel Buffalo's ongoing renaissance and put our city on solid financial footing. With significant investment and job growth underway — the most we've seen in decades — the City of Buffalo is strong and continues to grow stronger every day. I am pleased to present a balanced Fiscal Year 2016 Proposed Budget that continues the progress as we build a city of opportunity to ensure that all city residents share in our rising prosperity. Because of the work we have done and continue to do, Buffalo is prospering. For the first time since 1950, we're preparing for population growth. We've attracted over $5 billion in new economic development activity, that's expected to create over 12, 000 new jobs. Property values are up and neighborhoods citywide have gotten stronger. As a result of our hard work, this budget will allow us to continue to invest in the priorities that mean the most to our residents: economic development /job creation, public safety, infrastructure and neighborhood improvements, educational supports and arts programs. No matter where you live in our great city, everyone deserves equal access to opportunity. This Proposed Budget emphasizes strategies that further connect residents to opportunities, fostering a community wide mindset that embraces diversity and inclusion to accelerate Buffalo's growth and create new jobs. To keep Buffalo competitive for continued investment and to promote more residential growth, this year's budget continues my commitment to not raise taxes by holding the line on residential property taxes — with a slight reduction in the commercial property tax rate. We want to send a strong message that Buffalo is a great place to purchase property and live, work and invest. This budget also provides a sound fiscal management plan that keeps a laser -sharp focus on cost containment measures and ways to create new revenue, including the city's new traffic adjudication system that will enable Buffalo to adjudicate its own traffic violations in the coming fiscal year. Employing the highly successful Webster Block model, which converted a city -owned surface parking lot into the HARBORCENTER project in less than two years, we will continue to turn to the development community to re- develop prime pieces of city -owned land, which we anticipate will generate over $7 million in new revenue for the city this year. Every Buffalo resident deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood. My proposed budget allocates funding for cash rewards to increase arrests and convictions of those who commit homicide and possess illegal guns. Funding to hire approximately 120 new Buffalo firefighters is also included to help address expected retirements in FY 2016. Funding will also be increased for the Peacemakers Gang Intervention program. There is a major emphasis on infrastructure repair, including a new sidewalk replacement and snow removal program, a vacant lot lawn cutting initiative, as well as support for education, including funds to purchase tablet PC's for 500 Say Yes Scholars, We will provide funding for a minority cement finisher apprenticeship program, create a new minority engineer /architect training program, and add 50 employment opportunities for at -risk youth, bringing the city's youth employment program to 1,450 positions as we build a strong, 21 sc century workforce. This budget continues to provide a sound fiscal plan that takes every step possible to contain costs and keep our city competitive. This is a major accomplishment in what has been a challenging time for municipalities across the state. Despite the significant costs to provide essential government services, this budget enables us to move together with the shared goal of building a city of opportunity where everyone can thrive and no one is left behind. I'm confident the 2016 budget is a fair, reasonable and prudent fiscal plan that will lead to an even stronger, safer and more prosperous Buffalo. Copy available for review in the City Clerk's Office RECEIVED AND FILED NO. 3 MAYOR'S FOUR YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN Copy available for review in the City Clerk's Office RECEIVED AND FILED NO. 4 MAYOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS 2016 -2016 Copy available for review in the City Clerk's Office REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NO. 6 ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Rivera, the Council adjourned at 3:10 P.M. Gerald A. Chwalinski City Clerk