COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES

JANUARY 13, 1997

ATTENDANCE:

B & A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Swanson, Darcy, Young, Delfino, Abinanti

CA MEMBERS: Bronz, Stewart-Cousins

ENV MEMBERS: Carsky, Delfino, Latimer

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Gina Angiulo; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; Yonkers: Joe Farmer, Jim Certible; DPW: Comm. Landi, Ralph Butler; BOL: Legislator Mosiello, Don Sandford, Dan Rodriguez, Robert J. Boland, Glenn Guzi, Tina Seckerson

Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie called the Budget Committee meeting to order at 3:10 p.m.

Chair Carsky called the Environment Committee to order at 3:10 p.m.

Chair Bronz reconvened the Community Affairs Committee meeting at 3:10 p.m.

DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information):

• Bonding legislation is needed to fund detailed design plans and related studies.
• Mr. Certible stated that they hope to begin construction in 1998.
• This would add value to the adjacent land and spur economic growth.
• Currently Yonkers is preparing their RFP package which will take 8-12 weeks to put together.
• The County will add value to the land with the development of the Esplanade Park as the City added value to the land with the restoration of the pier.
• This project does not include the Marina which will be done in Phase II.
• Mrs. Swanson asked who would be responsible for this facility when completed. Ms. Oliva stated that it has always been their thought that Yonkers would be responsible for maintenance and security of the park (through an IMA)
• The ultimate cost of the project will be $6 million.
• For construction bond will need a full environmental review. For bonds for design phase it is considered a Type II action.
• Funding of garage will come from Yonkers’ Capital Program. Funding of buildings will come from a variety of funding programs.
• Mrs. Stewart-Cousins stated her support for moving this project forward.
• The Committee requested a written summary of the scope of the project which Commissioner Oliva stated she would provide.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES - JANUARY 13, 1997

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For the Budget Committee: On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve this legislation was carried by a vote of 6-0.

For the Environment Committee: On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this legislation was carried by a vote of 3-0.

• Commissioner Oliva reviewed the chronology of Residual Parcel HH (Rory O’Moore Park) [attached].
• Mrs. Bronz asked how long it would take to obtain a title search. Commissioner Oliva stated it would take at least a couple of weeks.
• Mr. Farmer, Special Assistant to the Mayor of Yonkers for Housing and Community Development, gave the Committees an overview of the project. According to Judge Sand’s order the City had to identify a site for 34 units of housing between the time frame of November 6th - December 6th. He explained that the units will be single-family homes. He stated that homeowners in the surrounding area had some concerns which were addressed to give them a better understanding of the situation. The property lines for the homes are sixty feet from the corner of the property to the edge of the park and eighty to ninety feet from the existing homes. Green space between the development and the surrounding area will be maintained. The City is committed to maintaining the park and the ball field.
• Mrs. Bronz stated that a title search should be done before any action is taken.
• Mr. Wishnie stated that he agreed with Mrs. Bronz that a deed search should be done to confirm that a real estate agency sold the property to the County and that there are no restrictions with regard to land use attached to it.
• On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to have a title search performed was carried by a vote of 6-0.
• On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the motion to have a title search performed was carried by a vote of 2-0.
• On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to have a title search performed was carried by a vote of 3-0.
• The request will be put in writing.
• Mr. Mosiello stated that he is the Legislator for this area, and in light of the fact that so many people from the area have stated their strong objection to the use of parkland for building purposes, the least the County can do is to have the title search performed.
• Mr. Farmer explained that the NAACP wanted to use the School 15 (closed) site for housing but according to the Judge’s order the housing has to be located where there was a school in close proximity. Since the site had to be in Northeast Yonkers the Rory O’Moore Park site was chosen as it is in close proximity to School 15. The NAACP agreed to make the site change. Mr. Farmer stated that if the School 15 site is used for housing another parcel of property would have to be condemned to build a school.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

MINUTES - JANUARY 13, 1997

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• Mr. Farmer informed the Committee that Yonkers wants and needs to move forward on the housing plan as the court order calls for 711 unites of affordable housing to be built in the next 6 years.
• Mr. Abinanti inquired as to how much of these units will be on the police property that was already given back to Yonkers. Mr. Farmer responded that it will be a small amount, approximately .7 acres.
• Mr. Abinanti stated his concern that the proposal to use parkland to build housing is coming at the beginning of the process and wondered how many other park properties will be asked for in the future. Mr. Farmer stated that this situation is unique, a one-time, one-shot situation.
• Mr. Abinanti stated that this land has already been given to Yonkers and perhaps what the County has to do is waive the requirement for use of the land as parkland.
• Mr. Mosiello stated that everyone should keep in mind that if this request is granted we will never turn anyone down again -- it will set policy.
• The Co-Chairs again stated that they will send a memo requesting copies of the deeds and all pertinent information.

BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES: On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve the Minutes of December 27, 1996 and January 6, 1997 was carried by a vote of 6-0.

Environment Committee: There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Committee on Community Affairs: There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Bronz, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Budget Committee: There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.