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January 10, 2001
1. Introductions
2. Minutes: Corrections: The Dec. minutes included alist of members of
Community Police Council that omitted Maria Parisella (MANS)and included Emily
Grisom (SHNA) who has retired from the Council. SteveWinters moved to approve
minutes as corrected. Seconded by Henry Madej.Approved.
3. Communications / Announcements
Marggiesent a letter to every County Legislator and to Mike Breslin regarding
41Ten Broeck – the building that the county started to tear down and
nowthere’s an effort to save the façade. Received one response- a phone
callfrom Nancy Wiley who alerted us to a discussion of this issue at
Monday’s(Jan. 8) meeting of the Co. Legis. Clare Yates attended and spoke
toCANA’s position on this issue.
CANAreceived a letter from Al DeSalvo proposing that CANA establish acommittee
on abandoned and deteriorating properties. Will table this ideauntil we get a
response from Co. Executive re working together with Cityreps and NA reps.
Dreamworksholding casting calls for “The Time Machine”. Needs male and
female extras21-100.
SnowEmergency number is 476-SNOW
Publicationswere circulated including: Avenew - newsletter of the Central Ave
BID; TV8(Bethlehem public access) schedule; DANA & Mansion NA
newsletters;Cornell Cooperative Extension schedules.
NeighborhoodsWork! follow-up mailing sent out; copies of resolutions
distributed.
Dept.of Development and Planning holding an information session Jan. 11 on
theWaterfront Living History Site Feasibility Study - So. BroadwayDistrict.
For info call MoniqueWahba 434-2532 x26.
AlbanyHome Store meetings on the first Thursday of every month, noon at
175Central Ave..
4. Committee Reports
a. University / Community Relations
Next meeting is Wed. February 14at 7pm at the Albany Police Dept. 526 Central
Ave. Topics to includeadvertising campaigns on intersession anti-burglary
efforts, drugs in drinkswarning and gifts/belongings in cars anti-theft efforts.
b. Cable/Public Access
No report
c. Community Police Council
There is now a web site for sex offenders. Newofficers in areas of the City.
Considering inviting neighbor hood associationsto police academy graduation open
house.
d. Airport Noise
Airport committee on noise meeting on January 16 at7:30 Sage College Campus
Center Rm 224.
e. College of St. Rose Construction Plans
Façade changed in an attempt to blend in withadjoining neighborhood. The Board
of Zoning Appeals determined that buildingwill not have negative impact on
neighborhood. The College has made an effortwith the design but has not changed
the size of the building or addressed theparking impact. There’s still time to
voice your opinion at the next planningboard meeting.
f. Other
· Carol Saginaw, League of Women Voters,
announced thatthere’s a coalition setting up a series of study circles on
racism. Pilotcircles begin in February. Contact the League of Women Voters for
moreinformation. 465-4162
· Nominating committee was appointed –
Steve Winters,Henry Madej, Harold Rubin and Mary Connair.
· NYPIRG distributed information about the
countyPesticide Neighbor Notification Law and encouraged CANA to support this
law.
· This is CANA’s 25th anniversary. Think
about how to celebrate. We’ll appointa committee next time.
· Future Speakers: Helen Desfosses
(February), MikeBreslin (March), Colleges (April) Historic Preservation, BID
reps, City’sNeighborhood Planner.
5. Guest Speaker: Mayor Gerald D. Jennings, State of theCity
TheMayor stated that the city is doing pretty well.
In1994 there was a $15M deficit and now there’s more property on the taxrolls
and new development in downtown Albany.
Bigachievement was NYS 30 year commitment for $4 million, then $10 millionannual
payment in lieu of taxes.
There’sa $1.7M surplus in the current budget – structurally solid for the
firsttime in 13 years.
Receivedanother permit on the landfill.
HarrimanState Campus Encon moving downtown from WolfRoad. DOT moving from
campus to WolfRoad
Buildings on the Harriman Campus(330 acres) will be evaluated for the best use.
Possible site for middle orhigh school.
Would like to get the land backon the tax rolls. Additional taxable properties
put the city on solid course toavoid raising taxes.
Legislative Agenda Items
1.
Permit
Parking (legislation says 80% can be dedicated topermit parking)
2.
Schools
– talk with leaders about solution to financialdifficulty caused by payments
to Charter Schools.
3.
Waterfront-
pedestrian bridge - $8M project – break ground inspring – 12 mos. Project.-
o redesign Corning Preserve – will not be
constructing anybuildings except for an amphitheater.
o $300,00 from state for a study on
recreating Ft.Orange anddocking the Half Moon to create a “living museum”
o Albany designated as inland port for Port
of NY & NJ.
o $750,000 grant from the Governor to move
train tracks closerto river.
o Ice House – 65 acres available. Lock 1
of Erie Canal buriedthere. Asked for study of best possible use of the land.
4.
Downtown
Shouldinclude more residential opportunities
PalaceTheatre / Proctor’s will have “common management” invest $10M to get
upto speed to bring in traveling shows
StateTransportation Bond Act failure impacts projects planned for Lark
St.,Central Ave., So. Pearl St. We need to find other resources.
Telecommunications
atleast 11 companies putting in fiber optics
Urbanplan to “wire” the city. Committee chaired by Bill Bruce.
Other
o
Dept. of Development and Planning:
Neighborhood Planner plus afull time attorney to deal with code enforcement
o City has proposed a new set of codes that
are simpler andinclude more expensive fines- there will be opportunity for
public comment andwe’ll get a copy of proposed codes.
o City will purchase Urban League building
on Henry Johnson Blvd– one centralized place to address all quality of life
issues. New Commr. ofPublic Safety, Jack Nielsen, in this building.
o It’s not the Mayor’s job to hire and
fire school personnel. Itis the Mayor’s job to assure that what happens in the
school district haspositive impact on city. Put together committee to talk about
public educationin the City – vision. Need more elementary schools. Use new
Census figures as aguideline for building plans.
o BIDS – people excited about getting
involved.
Q: Every fall we adopt abudget after a round of public comment. When
January comes there are plans thatweren’t in the original budget. Why?
A: Budget early. Wasn’tready. New ideas can’t wait. Council
supportive.
Q: Swan St. plan to sellbuildings for $1 to developer. How did city get
ownership?
A: Title was transferred tothe Housing Authority. Public housing money
available to do just this. Wouldlike to see a plan to put large chunks of money
into neighborhoods year byyear, one at a time, to address these property issues.
Q: What’s the time framefor getting the Neighborhood Planner?
A: By March 1.
Q: City collects unpaidtaxes from County. School gets unpaid taxes from
County. What is City doing towork with County to deal with properties in arrear
of taxes that people mightwant to buy?
A: If we have interestedinvestors we need to get out from under taxes so
people will buy and put moneyinto the buildings. Neighborhood planner will be
part of this.
Q: Who is the attorney forCode Enforcement?
A: Todd Burnham inCorporation Counsel office.
Q: Two newest buildings areparking garages. Anything being done to deal
with public transportation?
A: Yes, work closely withCDTA. This City needs light rail down the
Northway corridor. Newest lotapproved by Albany Parking Authority at the end of
Clinton Avenue. Need parkingon Washington Ave for AIHA and Lark Street.
Q: Read about Y coming toNo. Pearl St. What do you see as library
branches in neighborhoods?
A: Y came into pictureafter school backed down. Partner with Y. Not sure
about library. Don’t want alibrary in a school that closes at 3 pm. Need to
keep schools open longer.
Q: Is anyone in officeworking on airport noise?
A: I am meeting with JohnEgan. Currently a study is underway which may
result in redirection of routes.
Comment: With new charterschools and facility management proposal, are we
planning to build a 3rdmiddle school that we might not need?
Mayor: School Dist shoulddeal with elementary issue first. We should have
a tech high school and teamwith SUNY Albany. Proponent of using high school for
middle school - separate 6thgrade and divide the 7th & 8th grades into sides
of buildings.Look at numbers before building.
Comment: Appreciativegetting back to Mayor themes – improvement of
student achievement. Charter schoolsare the demise of public schools. Remiss if
didn’t point out teacher dismay atcomments by the Mayor in the in paper.
Q: Many cities withhistoric property promote themselves as filming
locations.
A: Have been talking aboutthis. Need to make it easy, fit in to
production budget.
Q: Applaud parking permitplan, code enforcement. Can we get a copy of the
map for the permit area?
A: Yes
Comment: Neighborhoodplanner – request that he or she looks at gateway
from Exit 6.
Applaud Internet broadcast of thestate of the city address.
Q: Is there time for thepublic to comment on combined services before
they go into effect?
A: Give it time to getoperating first.
Q: Can the City link to NAsites from the City’s web page?
A: Yes, good idea.
Q: In reference to schoolsand alienation. In NJ, a Mayor, with the School
District and Architect, haslooked at buildings in the City. Outside the box –
the city opening up toschools – studying maritime, arts, gov’t and using
city resources.
A: Should talk to SchoolBoard. Mayor is open to options.
Comment: I believe theanswer lies in organizations like Being Places
intergenerationalactivity centers. Students push themselves rather than be
pushed by others.Army of people to help students with work and they can’t
leave until it’s done.
Submitted by Sandra Thomas
Attendance:
Kathleen Kearney HPNA
Harold
Rubin CSQ
Don Dugan HELD
ChristopherLindsay
BEV
Dan Egan PLYM
Anne
MarfayWESTAV
Thomas Gebhardt UNIV
Joseph
McCaffrey WHALL
Betsy Shearer PSNA
BobBatson
WHALL
Steve Stella APD
Jim
Turley APD
Jack Nielsen APD
Bob
Bailey WPNA
Fred Perkins PHNA
Donna
GalloLangan CSQ
Carol Saginaw LWV
Kristin
BondsNYPIRG
Laura Haight NYPIRG
Ed
Taylor WPK
Bill Schilling LIB
Bill
Ritchie APSTA
Carol Griesemer APSTA
Howie
Stoller MEL
Pat Maxon UWNA
Hennie
NewhouseCSQ
Anne Savage PLYM
Bob
HokansonLPNA
David Phaff NewANA
Chris
Nemeth NewANA
Margo Janack CDTA
Jeff
Cannell LIB
Karen Durgee Young Dems
Donald
Wardle UTA
Mimi Mounteer MANG
Elizabeth
Griffin HAF CSQ
Ethel Silverberg LPNA
Martha
J. Downey LPNA
Aimee Allaud MEL
Henry
M. MadejPHNA
John Salamida PHNA
Helen
Black AHCC
Holly Katz MANS
Dominick
Calsolaro SANA
Cathy O’Neill DANA
Mary
Connair DANA
Gene Solan PHNA NRC
Andrew
Harvey PSNA
Jake Kowalchyk GAZETTE
TomMcPheeters
MANS
Michael Bergan CSQ
Joan
Strauss HPNA
Frances Tarlton CSQ
Mario
D. ArthurAPSTA
Paul Tenan
WmMalatesta
APSTA
Joyce Rambo CSQ
Karen
Salih CORA UTA
Marty Gawoski WHILL
Stephen
Winters SANA
Rev. Joyce Hartwell
LIFECRAFT
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