Meeting highlights include: 1) Creation of a Medical Corridor Resident Advisory Committee 2) Designation of St. John Community Development Corporation (“CDC”) as the developer of 50 City-owned parcels of land located in the Ellicott District. St. John CDC is proposing to construct 17 energy efficient townhomes on the sites as part of an overall project to build a total of 49 townhouses.
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Delaware District Council Member Michael J. LoCurto and Majority Leader and Masten District Council Member Demone A. Smith supporting New York State (“NYS”) Senate Bill #S2353-A and NYS Assembly Bill #A612-A, which would amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow the City of Buffalo to adjudicate traffic infractions, which are presently adjudicated by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Passage of the Bills would benefit the City of Buffalo by allowing the City to participate in and receive traffic infraction revenue, providing the City with an opportunity to implement a system that would allow traffic violators to have the option of a plea bargain, and permitting all traffic related violations to be adjudicated in a single and convenient location.
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Ellicott District Council Member Darius G. Pridgen supporting the creation of a Medical Corridor Resident Advisory Committee consisting of volunteers who would function as a liaison between medical corridor developers, residents and the Ellicott District Council Member. During the past 10 years, major expansions of Kaleida Health and Roswell Park Cancer Institute have created a medical corridor in a community which has endured great economic hardship. Recently, property values within the region bounded by Best Street, Main Street, Cherry Street and Jefferson Avenue have increased dramatically due to the area’s proximity to the medical corridor. With new opportunities continuing to arise for development and business in the vicinity of the medical corridor, residents have begun to voice concerns about the inconsistent information that they are receiving from developers as well as the lack of actual community input into development plans. The Medical Corridor Resident Advisory Committee will be composed of members that are elected annually from each street within the region bounded by Best Street, Main Street, Cherry Street, and Jefferson Avenue. In the event that a street fails to elect a volunteer to serve as a Committee Member, the Ellicott District Council Member will appoint a resident of such street to serve.
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Ellicott District Council Member Darius G. Pridgen amending the Common Council Rules of Order to include a formal orientation process for newly elected and/or appointed Council Members and their staff. This orientation process will begin no later than seven business days after a Council Member is sworn into office and will be conducted by the Council Majority Leader. The purpose of this orientation is to familiarize new Council Members and their staff with the duties and responsibilities associated with their positions as well as to provide information that they will need for managing their Common Council District office. The resolution also directs the Common Council Chief of Staff and City Clerk to prepare an orientation manual to be distributed to newly elected and/or appointed Council Members and their respective staff as part of such orientation.
The Council approved a resolution sponsored by Fillmore District Council Member David A. Franczyk dedicating the property located at 828 South Division Street as a City of Buffalo park to be used solely for park purposes. This property is owned by the City of Buffalo but is currently listed as municipal parkland for assessment purposes only. Formally dedicating this property as a park will allow 828 South Division Street to be included in the City’s park inventory for the use and enjoyment of City residents.
The Council approved a resolution sponsored by Niagara District Council Member David A. Rivera requesting that the Department of Public Works waive all garbage tote fees for the use of Broderick Park by Buffalo United Front for its June 23rd and 24th for 2012 “Family Fishing Day” event. Buffalo United Front is a non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce youth violence while providing young people with exposure to positive experiences in the community. “Family Fishing Day” was established in 2008 to teach children about fishing.
The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Council President and Lovejoy District Council Member Richard A. Fontana waiving usage fees for the Machina Center for the Willett Street Block Club for the year 2012. The Willett Street Block Club is a newly formed community group focused on addressing the needs and concerns of the residents of Willett Street and the surrounding area.
The Council approved an amendment to Chapter 263, sections 263.39 through 263.40, of the Code of the City of Buffalo, sponsored by North District Council Member Joseph Golombek, Jr. This legislation states the requirements for operating licensed businesses within the City of Buffalo and provides that any person, firm, corporation or other entity violating the provisions of Chapter 263 or operating without a required City license shall be immediately closed by order of the Buffalo Police Department or the Department of Permit and Inspection Services.
Upon the recommendation of the Department of Permit & Inspection Services, the Council approved the following license and permit applications:
• Delaware District
Restaurant Dance License
Mr. Goodbar, located at 1108 Elmwood Avenue
Permit to Erect 1 Story Addition for Take-out Restaurant with an Outdoor Café
D. Sutton, agent of the property located at 1049 Elmwood Avenue
• Ellicott District
Restaurant Dance License
Bayou, located at 67 West Chippewa Street
Bottoms Up V LLC, located at 67 West Chippewa Street
Club W Inc., located at 199 Delaware Avenue
Big Bad Wolf, located at 234 Delaware Avenue
Social, located at 228 Franklin Street
Food Store License
Quick Mart, located at 468 Niagara Street
• Fillmore District
Permit for an Awning
La Tee Da Café Inc., located at 206 Allen Street
Lodging House License
Muhammad Sadruzzaman, owner of the property located at 825 Fillmore Avenue
Karen Scherer, owner of the property located at 850 Sycamore Street
• Masten District
Restaurant Dance License
New Golden Nugget, located at 2046 Fillmore Avenue
• University District
Permit for a Freestanding Sign
J. Fletcher, agent of the property located at 2515 Bailey Avenue
The Council denied the following license application:
• Fillmore District
Food Store License
Broadway Mart, located at 1069 Broadway
• Upon the request of the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, the Council:
Approved a one year extension of the City’s leasing arrangements with the Buffalo Bisons through March 31, 2013. This extension includes a one-time only provision not included in prior lease extensions, whereby the City will reimburse the Bisons for an additional $150,000 for utility costs. Consistent with past lease extensions, the City will pay for stadium property damage insurance and will continue to provide refuse collection and water at the stadium.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning (“OSP”), the Council:
Authorized the designation of St. John Community Development Corporation (“CDC”) as the developer of 50 City-owned parcels of land located in the Ellicott District. St. John CDC is proposing to construct 17 energy efficient townhomes on the sites as part of an overall project to build a total of 49 townhouses. The fair market value of the properties is $80,500. St. John CDC previously built 28 townhouse units (lead image) on several Fruitbelt steets five years ago (see below).
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Administration, Finance, Policy & Urban Affairs, the Council:
Authorized the Division of Purchase to enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Buffalo Board of Education to supply food for the Buffalo Police Department City Court Lock Up. The Division of Purchase had originally solicited a formal Request for Proposals (“RFP”) in the open market for the supply of meals at the Lock Up, but ultimately determined that the Board of Education could supply this service significantly cheaper to the City while still meeting all Department of Justice Guidelines.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Fire, the Council:
Authorized the Department of Fire to accept grant funding in an amount up to $281,693 from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The objective of the grant program through which this money is being administered is to prevent terrorist attacks and to help the Department prepare for, respond to and recover from man-made and natural disasters.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Police (“BPD”), the Council:
Authorized BPD to use New York State Homeland Security UASI Funds to purchase a Command Bus vehicle. This vehicle will be used within all five of the City’s Police Districts and by BPD specialty squads, during all festivals and large community events, and during emergency crisis situations that include natural and man-made disasters. This vehicle will serve as an “on-scene” mobile command post to coordinate public safety measures.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”), the Council approved the following contract change orders:
The contract with Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc., for the Broderick Park Master Plan Project, was increased by $4,970 for additional services related to evaluating the reuse of the existing Concession Building, including site visit and report preparation. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $63,000 and with this change the contract will increase to $67,970.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”), the Council:
Authorized DPW to hire an engineering consultant to provide architectural and engineering services for various projects throughout the City of Buffalo including 725 Humboldt Park, the Buffalo & Erie Historical Society, the Police Radio Annex, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the Seneca Babcock Community Center, Cazenovia Casino and Marcy Casino. It is estimated that the costs for these consulting services will not exceed $300,000 and the consultant will be chosen through a Request for Qualification (“RFQ”) process.
• Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works, the Council approved the following reports of bids:
Of the bids that were received for the 60 Hedley Place Reconstruction – Phase 2 Project, Greater Niagara Mechanical was the lowest, with a bid of $172,300.
• The Council appointed the following individual as a Marriage Officer within the City of Buffalo:
Michael P. Kearns
• The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to positions within various City of Buffalo Departments at the base salary:
Office of the City Clerk
Clerk
Tanika Hubbard
Department of Public Works
Senior First Class Stationary Engineer
Richard Veroba
Edward Anken
Laborer II – Seasonal
Delano Fabor
For any questions, concerns, or further information regarding the above, please contact your District Council Member, the Common Council Legislative Staff Office, or the respective City Department.
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BUFFALO COMMON COUNCIL
David A. Franczyk
Fillmore District
1315 City Hall
851-4138
David A. Rivera
President Pro Tempore
Niagara District
1504 City Hall
851-5125
Richard A. Fontana
Majority Leader
Lovejoy District
1414 City Hall
851-5151
Michael J. LoCurto
Delaware District
1405 City Hall
851-5155
Darius G. Pridgen
Ellicott District
1408 City Hall
851-4980
Demone A. Smith
Masten District
1316-A City Hall
851-5145
Joseph Golombek, Jr.
North District
1502 City Hall
851-5116
David A. Franczyk
Fillmore District
1315 City Hall
851-4138
David A. Rivera
President Pro Tempore
Niagara District
1504 City Hall
851-5125
Richard A. Fontana
Majority Leader
Lovejoy District
1414 City Hall
851-5151
Michael J. LoCurto
Delaware District
1405 City Hall
851-5155
Darius G. Pridgen
Ellicott District
1408 City Hall
851-4980
Demone A. Smith
Masten District
1316-A City Hall
851-5145
Joseph Golombek, Jr.
North District
1502 City Hall
851-5116
South District
1401 City Hall
851-5169
Bonnie E. Russell
University District
1508 City Hall
851-5165
Common Council Legislative Staff Office
1413 City Hall
851-5105
1401 City Hall
851-5169
Bonnie E. Russell
University District
1508 City Hall
851-5165
Common Council Legislative Staff Office
1413 City Hall
851-5105
James N. Jackson
Legislative Assistant
City of Buffalo Common Council
1413 City Hall
Buffalo, NY 14202