Common Council Items of Interest 1-24-12

The Council adopted a resolution seeking support from New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Western New York (“WNY”) State legislators to shift Erie Community College’s (“ECC”) proposal for a Health Sciences Center for Excellence to its City Campus, where it can tap into emerging opportunities created by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (“BNMC”). Recently, SUNY has forwarded to Governor Cuomo a proposed $15 million budget earmark for a Health Sciences Center for Excellence at ECC’s North Campus. It is the Council’s position that a North Campus location for the proposed Health Sciences Center is a bad idea because it is inconsistent with the smart growth and workforce development objectives of Governor Cuomo’s WNY Regional Economic Development Strategy Plan and it would not compliment the substantial investments SUNY is making at BNMC. The Council maintains that there are many sites in downtown Buffalo and at BNMC where a health sciences facility would be a better fit than at ECC’s isolated North Campus. Shifting ECC’s proposed Health Sciences Center for Excellence to its City Campus would allow such a facility to leverage existing investments, better advance the college’s mission, and boost the region’s health sciences industry.

The Council approved an ordinance amendment to Chapter 316, Sections 50 through 57 of the Code of the City of Buffalo to regulate mobile food vehicle vendors. A mobile food vehicle (“MFV”) is defined as a commercially manufactured, self-contained, motorized, mobile food unit in which ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed or portioned for service, sale or distribution. The ordinance amendment includes restrictions, license requirements, and a sunset provision that renders the ordinance amendment void after April 1, 2013 unless the Common Council renews, amends or modifies this ordinance amendment. A copy of the Common Council’s approved ordinance amendment is attached in the following PDF format: Ordinance Amendment- Chapter 316.pdf

The Council approved a resolution sponsored by Lovejoy District Council Member Richard A. Fontana requesting that the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works waive any and all fees associated with the usage of the Machnica Center community meeting room for the Kaisertown Coalition Block Club. Block clubs serve as a way for neighbors to communicate and work collaboratively with one another and their elected representatives to address problems and improve their community. The Kaisertown Coalition Block Club, which serves the residents of the Kaisertown Community in the Lovejoy District, is comprised of volunteer members and is self-reliant for means of fundraising. The Council maintains that waiving the fees for the use of the Machnica Center community meeting room is essential to assisting the Kaisertown Coalition Block Club in its goal of improving the community. 

Permit to Convert a Salon to a Sit-in Restaurant and Outdoor Café 

• G. Ponmapalam, agent of the property located at 427 Elmwood Avenue 

Permit to Place Pole Sign at Scrap Yard

• P. Strada, agent of the property located at 761 Hertel Avenue 

Permit for a Pole Sign

• B. Baumker, agent of the property located at 333 Amherst Street 

The contract with Frey Electric Construction Co. for the City Court Basement Detention Center Project was increased by $13,778 for additional electrical work required to complete the project. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $920,000 and with this change the contract will increase to $933,778. 

The contract with Milherst Construction, Inc. for the Colvin Estates Subdivision Project was increased by $48,946 to cover costs that were added to the project as a result of the City of Buffalo Planning Board’s approval of a lot reconfiguration for the Colvin Estates Subdivision. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $837,028 and with this change the contract will increase to $885,974. 

The contract with Lardon Construction Corp. for the City of Buffalo Yard Waste Removal Contract was increased by $6,000 due to the need for the company to haul away more compost than the previous year. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $70,000 and with this change the contract will increase to $76,000. 

The contract with Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc. for the Rehabilitation of Equipment in the Low Lift Pump Station at the Filter Plant was increased by $172,400 for services related to additional construction administration and inspection. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $400,000 and with this and prior changes the contract will increase to $713,900. 

Authorized the Department of Fire to accept and expend New York State Division of Homeland Security Grant funds in the amount of $317,419 for a Mobile Command Vehicle. The funds will enable the department to continue to enhance the Metropolitan Medical Response Plan to respond to any range of mass casualty incidents from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events as well as epidemic outbreaks, natural disasters, and large-scale hazardous material incidents. 

Authorized a salary increase for the position of General Counsel to include a range with a minimum salary of $93,897 to a maximum of $100,000. 

 

Authorized DPW to accept funds in the amount of $100,000 from the Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy for the Reconstruction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Humboldt Basin Splash Pad. These funds will be used to fund various aspects of the project. 

Authorized DPW to accept the donation of three high bay ladder truck doors and one smaller garage door from the Larkin Group for Fire
Engine 32, which is located at Seneca and Swan Streets. 

Authorized the Mayor and DPW to enter into agreements with the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”), Federal Transit Administration, New York State Department of Transportation, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, State of New York, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council for the design, inspection and construction of the 500 block of Main Street. FHWA has designated $18.75 million for the project through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (“TIGER”) Discretionary Grants Program. 

Authorized DPW to retain Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc. as the architectural and engineering consultant for the Citywide Parks Improvements Project. The project will consist of the construction of basketball, tennis and floor hockey courts and is estimated not to exceed $140,000. 

Authorized DPW to execute contracts and preservation covenants for grants awarded to, and to be administered by, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to be implemented in various City of Buffalo parks. A grant in the amount of $500,000 will fund improvements to the Martin Luther King (“MLK”), Jr. Park Humboldt Basin, Riverside Park, and Delaware Park’s Parkside Lodge and a grant in the amount of $50,000 will fund improvements to the MLK, Jr. Park Basin Stairs. 

Of the bids that were received for the 60 Hedley Place Reconstruction Project – Phase 2, the following companies produced the lowest responsible bids for a total of $1,090,281: 

• General Construction

• Ledge Creek Development, Inc. – $614,000

• Electrical Construction

• Frey Electric Construction Co., Inc. – $141,000

• Plumbing Construction

• Ackerman Plumbing – $168,281

• HVAC Construction

• Parise Mechanical, Inc. – $167,000 

Of the bids that were received for the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion Interior Alterations, Phase 1 Project for HVAC Work, Parise Mechanical, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $57,700.