2026-11-04 - Council Committees Day 1

02:02>> No. I might be aggressive,

02:06but I'm never passive. So at

02:08this time, I called the

02:09neighborhood Jobs and Housing

02:11Committee to order. And I ask

02:13the clerk to call the Roll.

02:14>> Council member Patterson

02:16Council member Leslie Smith

02:18here. Council member Lupien is

02:21excused. Vice President Harris

02:22here. President Melendez is

02:25excused. Thank you.

02:28>> All right.

02:29>> So we have no presentation

02:32this month, so we will just get

02:33right to the work. The first

02:35item we have is introductory

02:37number 377. It's a budget

02:39amendment budget amendment for

02:40the New York State t t Home

02:43Improvement program. Could the

02:44administration just tell the

02:45community a little bit about

02:47what this program actually,

02:48this is an amazing program.

02:49It's the state's money, which

02:50makes it even better. And we've

02:52been spending it in the most

02:53challenging communities, most

02:55challenged neighborhoods in our

02:56community. So if you just tell

02:57the committee a little bit

02:59about this amazing work that

03:00you're doing with it and what

03:01you're doing with this little

03:03bit of change you got left over.

03:05>> Okay, we'd be happy to. I'll

03:06take just as quickly describe

03:07what the the item actually is

03:10and can let Deputy Commissioner

03:13Reed offer any description on

03:16the program itself. But the

03:17item before you is simply to

03:21amend the budget of the

03:23Department to bring on unspent

03:26funds to complete the work at

03:28the three remaining homes that

03:31will be. That will benefit from

03:33the from the Tip program, and

03:36I'll let the Deputy

03:38Commissioner explain just a

03:39little bit about the program.

03:41>> So. Sure. So the targeted

03:43home improvement program is

03:45something that we've been doing

03:47since 2024, where we target

03:51properties that are between 1

03:53and 4 units, owner occupied as

03:58well.

04:00>> Okay. Questions, comments or

04:03concerns? All right. We'll

04:04start down. Council member

04:05Leslie Smith. Tell you what.

04:06We'll make it easy. We'll just

04:08come down the line. But we will

04:09start with Council member

04:10Leslie Smith since she had her

04:12hand up first.

04:13>> Okay, sure. I just wanted to

04:14know what is the average grant

04:16amount for this program?

04:18>> It's roughly 40,000 per unit.

04:20>> Okay, great. And will more

04:24funds be available or is this a

04:26one time fund? I know you said

04:28it's been for since 22 or 20.

04:30When did you say it started?

04:33>> So we're not aware of any

04:36additional funding coming out

04:37from the state for this

04:38particular program at this time.

04:41>> Got it. Okay. And it does

04:43look like more of the funds

04:45went to the northeast. Was

04:46there a reason for that? I know

04:49it said it's a lottery. Did you

04:51prioritize the northeast?

04:52>> It's just it's just based on

04:53the lottery.

04:54>> Got it. Okay, great. Thank

04:57you.

04:57>> Council member Gruber, vice

05:01president, Council member.

05:05Martin.

05:08>> Why are these last three

05:11buildings receiving funding at

05:12this time and not previously?

05:17>> So initially we had a couple,

05:20I would say, if you want to say

05:22contractors, that the work just

05:24didn't get completed for the

05:25ones that were allocated for.

05:27So the additional funds, we're

05:28just going to use it for these

05:30properties that were already

05:31part of the lottery.

05:32>> And were they aware that

05:33they were in some kind of

05:35waitlist? Yes. Okay, great.

05:37Thank you.

05:39>> Councilmember Monroe,

05:40Council Member Smith. All right.

05:42On that point, then, seeing no

05:44other questions, comments or

05:45concerns, I need a motion in a

05:46second. Second moved and

05:48seconded. And now we vote. All

05:49in favor of introductory number

05:50377. Please say aye. Aye. All

05:53opposed say nay. Introductory

05:54passes introductory number 378.

05:57We need to amend the item. Yep.

06:00So we need to amend the item.

06:03We all have the everybody's got

06:05the sheet on what we're doing

06:06in the new amendment pages to

06:08the administration. Can you

06:09just tell us real quick about

06:10this section for what you added

06:12to the document?

06:17>> Thank you, Chair Peterson.

06:19So this is 378 and 379 are

06:22essentially companion

06:24legislation to the Zoning

06:25Alignment Project. The purpose

06:27of entering them in here is to

06:29get them into the council cycle,

06:32not to actually vote on them,

06:33but to vote on them whenever

06:35you would adopt the new code

06:36and the new map. The easiest

06:38way to describe what you're

06:39looking at is. The. There are

06:43other sections of both the city

06:45code and the City Charter,

06:46which call for cross reference

06:48the zoning code as outlined

06:51here in the transmittal. And so

06:54this is essentially companion

06:56legislation to make sure that

06:58any references to the zoning

06:59code reflect any updates that

07:01Council makes when they adopt

07:02the new code.

07:03>> Okay. Fair enough. Question

07:06for for corporation council. So

07:10378 is amended to add section

07:12four, basically stating that

07:13this local law shall take

07:14effect upon the latter of a its

07:16finding in the office of a its

07:18filing in the office of the

07:20Secretary of State, as required

07:21by section 27 of the New York

07:23State Municipal Home Rule Law,

07:24and b the effective date of

07:25introductory number 352.

07:27Adoption of a new zoning map.

07:29Is there a reason why that same

07:32section wasn't added to

07:33introductory number 379? Which

07:37was a copy? What? There's like

07:39two pieces of legislation we

07:40had.

07:41>> Yeah, there's two pieces, I

07:42don't know. I'll find out for

07:43you and and let you know if it

07:45needs to be amended down the

07:47road. We'll do that.

07:48>> Yeah, yeah. All right. Cool,

07:49cool. All right. So I need a

07:51motion and a second. Move it.

07:52Wait wait wait wait. Oh, sorry.

07:55Yes. Council member. Yes. I

07:57wanted to know. Well be clear.

08:01Does changing the center city

08:03to downtown mixed use change?

08:04Which properties qualify for

08:05tax exemptions. And what would

08:08that mean for the. Well for tax

08:10exemptions. And then I wanted

08:12to know, are the downtown mixed

08:14use boundaries the same as

08:16Center City? If not, can you

08:19show us which properties are

08:20being added or removed and

08:21explain what changes for them?

08:24>> Yeah, we can get you an

08:26answer in writing. I will tell

08:27you boundaries are changing for

08:29zoning districts, but we can

08:31get you in writing what impacts

08:32that has on specific properties.

08:34>> Thank you.

08:35>> All right, Mayor Martin.

08:38>> Thank you. I have a

08:39procedural question for law.

08:41And you, Chair Patterson. So is

08:43the plan to vote this out of

08:47committee, amend it and then

08:48vote it into committee?

08:49>> All we're going to do is

08:51amended and then we're going to

08:52hold it.

08:53>> But to amend it, you have to

08:55vote it out of committee. No,

08:56no. Got it. No.

09:00>> Monroe. Yes.

09:04>> I have a question regarding

09:06the issuance of inspection

09:08warrants. I'm just wondering

09:09how many inspection warrants

09:11we've actually issued from 2024

09:13to the present time.

09:17>> We can look into that and

09:19and offer a response in writing.

09:21>> And then. If there are some,

09:25you know, what were the the

09:26reasons here? Because I see

09:27there are some different

09:31descriptions of why they could

09:33it could be triggered. So just

09:35wanted to know what the ones

09:36that were done, what they fell

09:38under for reasoning.

09:40>> Okay, we'll include that in

09:41the response.

09:42>> And then my other question

09:44is for the historic property

09:46tax exemption. Has this the way

09:49it's written here, with the

09:52percentage changing over the

09:53course of ten years, is has

09:55that been utilized by

09:56homeowners, like just residents,

09:58or is that something that's

09:59been exclusively commercial

10:01buildings that would fall into

10:02this category?

10:06>> I'm not aware, but we will

10:10confirm whether any if we can

10:12get that information, whether

10:13whether any single family or or

10:16smaller residential properties

10:17have taken advantage of that.

10:18>> Thank you.

10:21>> Yeah, we we've got an awful

10:22lot of questions on this item.

10:24And, you know, I still want to

10:26know how come you can't have a

10:27goat in the city of Rochester,

10:29but you can have a dog that

10:31looks like a horse. But and

10:32that's they're actually going

10:33to be getting back to me in

10:35writing with that answer

10:36because I'm like, because this

10:37is one of the things this does

10:39is it says, you can't own a

10:41goat in the city of Rochester.

10:42Yeah. Go. Yeah.

10:43>> Steve, while I try to get

10:45done. Oh, sorry. And just so

10:46I'm clear, can we also, can you

10:48show us the old and new

10:49district boundaries and explain

10:50who would be affected as well?

10:52Alongside the other question I

10:53had.

10:54>> For for all of the district

10:57changes, or referring back to

10:58your question about Center City

11:00district in downtown. Correct.

11:02Okay. Absolutely.

11:04>> Any other questions,

11:05comments or concerns? Seeing

11:07none, I need a motion and a

11:09second to amend the item.

11:12>> Second.

11:12>> Moved and seconded to amend.

11:14And now we vote on the

11:15amendment. All in favor, please

11:16say aye. Aye. All opposed?

11:18Please say nay. Amendment

11:20passes. And on that note, we

11:21are now going to hold the item.

11:24So that's that one. And we're

11:25moving right along to

11:28introductory number 380.

11:33Authorizing agreements for the

11:34home Rochester Asset Control

11:35Area program. Questions.

11:37Comments. Introductory number

11:40380. Yeah I'm sorry. Holding

11:44379378 and 379. We're holding

11:45both of them. Yes. So moving on.

11:48Introductory number 380

11:49authorizing agreements for the

11:50home Rochester Asset Control

11:52Area program. Questions,

11:54comments or concerns? Seeing

11:56none, I need a motion in a

11:58second.

11:58>> Move it.

11:59>> Moved and seconded. And now

12:00we vote. All in favor of

12:02introductory number 380. Please

12:03say aye. Aye. All opposed?

12:05Please say nay. Introductory

12:07passes. With that item being

12:09concluded, the work of this

12:11committee is done, and we now

12:12stand adjourned.

13:08At this time I

13:10call the Neighborhood Jobs and

13:11Housing Committee to order, and

13:12I ask the clerk to call the

13:14Roll.

13:14>> Council member Patterson

13:15here. Council member Leslie

13:16Smith. Council member Lupien is

13:19excused. Vice President Harris

13:21here, president Melendez.

13:23>> All right, folks, so we need

13:24to go back and re vote on

13:26introductory number 380 just in

13:29order to get a disclosure in on

13:31the record. So going back to

13:32number 380, do we have any

13:34questions comments or concerns.

13:36Seeing none I need a motion in

13:38a second.

13:39>> Second.

13:39>> All right. And I believe

13:41that there's a disclosure needs

13:42to be made on introduction

13:43number 380.

13:44>> Yes. Disclosure that a

13:45member of the land Bank. So am

13:48I allowed to. What's the right.

13:52>> And in this context that

13:53requires disclosure but not

13:55recusal.

13:55>> Okay.

13:56>> All right. So we've got that

13:57done. So now we vote. All in

13:59favor of introductory number

14:00380, please say aye. Aye. All

14:02opposed say nay. Introductory

14:05passes. With that being

14:06concluded, the work of this

14:07committee is done, and we now

14:09stand adjourned again.

15:11>> Okay. It's 415. So I'm going

15:13to call the budget, Finance and

15:16Governance Committee to order

15:17and ask the clerk to please

15:18call the roll.

15:19>> Council member Gruber.

15:21>> Here.

15:21>> Council member Martin.

15:22>> Here.

15:23>> Council member Smith, vice

15:25President Harris here.

15:26President Melendez is excused.

15:28Thank you.

15:29>> Great. We're going to open

15:32up this meeting with a

15:33presentation from Joanne and

15:35Sarah on the Neighbors and

15:36Action program, otherwise known

15:38as Nia. We have some materials

15:41in front of us and a

15:43presentation on the board, and

15:44I'll turn it over to Joanne.

15:52>> To be entering into year

15:53three of the Neighbors and

15:54Action Grant. I did want to

15:56mention, because it's not in

15:57the presentation, Sarah will be

15:59giving you the presentation.

16:00She's now the senior community

16:02program planner, so she sort of

16:03oversees the Nia folks and all

16:07the grants that we're doing. We

16:10received at the very last

16:11minute last year, 25,000 from

16:13Canandaigua National Bank, and

16:14they've committed to 30,000 for

16:16the upcoming year. So that's

16:18not in the presentation because

16:19it's late breaking news, but

16:20we're really excited about that

16:22too. So for next year, we'll be

16:24able to give out $330,000.

16:30>> Oops.

16:30>> Hi. Thanks for having us. So

16:33as Joanne said, I'm Sarah Keyes,

16:35senior community program

16:36planner. I'm located in the

16:37Southeast Neighborhood Service

16:38Center. We do have Nia

16:41representatives in each

16:41quadrant. The other three are

16:43here. We have Eleanor Coleman

16:44from the southwest, Margaret

16:47from the northeast, and Don ho

16:49from the northwest office. I'll

16:53just go through the quick

16:55presentation that they had me

16:56put. We did add Canandaigua

16:57National Bank onto the funders.

16:59So you'll see that at the

17:01bottom. And.

17:06>> There we go.

17:07>> We are in year three, but I

17:09still just wanted to give a

17:11quick overview of the program,

17:12Neighbors in Action, when it

17:14was launched back in September

17:18of 2024. We started the program

17:22in 2025 by funding the

17:23community, organizations and

17:25neighborhoods, and it's funded

17:28by the first two years, was

17:29funded by the City of Rochester,

17:31ESL Federal Credit Union and

17:33Rochester Area Community

17:34Foundation, both giving all

17:36three giving $100,000 towards

17:38the grants. Just a quick recap

17:42of the 2025 grants. Year one we

17:45had 82 applications with

17:49489,000, a little over $489,000

17:52requested. We were able to give

17:54out $230,000 to viable grants

17:57that fell under the categories,

18:00which was 47 grants and 47

18:04total different organizations.

18:07Moving on to this year, we went

18:10up quite a bit to 128

18:12applications, with over 666,000

18:17requested. We have a little

18:19asterisk by the grants awarded.

18:21We originally did have 70. 74,

18:27but then we did have some

18:28additional ones from that

18:29additional 25,000 that

18:30Canandaigua National Bank gave

18:32us. So we ended up a little

18:35over 300,000 that we handed out.

18:40So we only have two years worth

18:41of data. But Nia is reaching

18:43more neighborhoods from year

18:44one to year two. In 2025, we

18:48had the total of 47. This year

18:50we have 82. So we went up 35

18:52grants, which is a 74% increase

18:54from year one to year two,

18:57which is pretty substantial

18:59amount of increase in projects.

19:03In case you wanted to see it

19:04broken down. I have the 2025

19:07broken down with the funding

19:08that was allocated to each

19:10quadrant. And this was the

19:14first year it was rolled out.

19:15It was allocated as equally as

19:17possible given the viable

19:19projects. If we look at your

19:21two, we had many more

19:24applications and it was able to

19:25be a lot more equitable per

19:27quadrant. I just added some fun

19:30pictures so people could see

19:31the actual work of the

19:32neighbors in action. We had

19:34lots of beautification projects.

19:36We had lots of community events.

19:39We had lots of year. We had

19:42murals, a lot of podcasts this

19:45year. So the youth are really

19:46into podcasts. Our ever popular

19:49cats in different quadrants, as

19:53well as just a lot of community

19:55events across the city. So it's

19:57always nice to see the

19:59different people, all different

20:01kinds of events and different

20:03themes. And since we're looking

20:07at 2027, I just wanted to give

20:10a quick grant cycle update.

20:12We're looking to open these

20:14roughly around the same way the

20:16cycle has been the past two

20:17years. Applications are open

20:20beginning of January, stay open

20:21till middle of February. We'll

20:23have a couple of months of

20:24review, and then in April the

20:26grant decisions will be

20:27announced and we're off and

20:29running, kind of working with

20:30the neighborhoods and community

20:31organizations on their projects

20:32and making sure they start

20:35getting their money spent and

20:36start working on their projects.

20:38But that was the basic overview

20:41from 2025 to 2026. So I'll take

20:44any questions.

20:46>> Thanks. I'll start just with

20:48I appreciate the timeline there.

20:51Is there a maximum grant award?

20:54>> Yeah, it's categorized block

20:57clubs max out at 2500.

20:59Community organizations are at

21:015000. And neighborhood

21:03associations max out at 10,000.

21:05>> And I think that sort of

21:06answers what my follow up was

21:08going to be, which is just how

21:10we've I know how we started

21:11when Nia began several years

21:13ago, navigating the 501 C three

21:17conundrum that a lot of the

21:18folks who are applying for with

21:20great projects don't have them.

21:22That's in part, how it's done

21:24is if you don't have a 501 C

21:26three, you kind of get slotted

21:28into some of the smaller

21:29amounts of money.

21:30>> If they are applying for it

21:33early enough, we have the

21:35option of finding and working

21:36with them to find a fiscal

21:38sponsor so that their

21:39application is still viable if

21:40they apply too late, like the

21:42last two days, we're probably

21:43not going to be able to get a

21:45relationship made with them.

21:46But year two, we had quite a

21:48few that from the initial

21:49sessions that we outreached to,

21:50knew that they had to either

21:52start a relationship or find a

21:53501 C three to sponsor them for

21:55their projects. So most of the

21:56applications for year two had

21:58sponsors.

21:58>> And city staff helps with

21:59that.

22:00>> Yes.

22:01>> Great. And last question

22:02from me, I'll turn it over to

22:04my colleagues. The review

22:06committee consists of city

22:08staff from various departments

22:10and these funders.

22:12>> Yes.

22:12>> How many people on the

22:13committee in total?

22:16>> Because we had so many

22:17grants this year, there were 3

22:19to 4 from each funding

22:21organization. And not everybody

22:22looked at every grant I did,

22:25but I didn't necessarily rate

22:27them all. But I just wanted to

22:29see all the grants. But most

22:30folks divvied up. They divvied

22:32up the grants, and we looked at

22:33different ones and ranked stack

22:35ranked them. We had a score

22:36sheet, so it was done pretty

22:38fairly.

22:39>> Got it. Thank you. Questions

22:41from council members.

22:44Councilmember Leslie Smith.

22:47>> I do have some feedback for

22:48the program that I'm going to

22:50probably provide in writing,

22:51but I am just curious, given

22:53the tiers of funding that's

22:56available to the various

22:58organization types for our

23:00neighborhoods that are a little

23:01less organized, how are we

23:04supporting those communities?

23:05If there is really no option

23:08for getting the $10,000 that

23:09could really make a difference

23:12in that community?

23:15>> So every quadrant has a

23:18neighborhood association and

23:19what we've tried to do, and

23:21it's going to take us a few

23:22years to get there, is really

23:24do the capacity building that

23:25needs to happen so that they

23:27can partner. And I will give

23:28Eleanor Coleman a plug because

23:30she's the queen of people

23:32partnering.

23:33>> And yes, she is.

23:34>> Yes, she really is. And we

23:35want to like see if she'll just

23:37volunteer afterwards because

23:38she's actually done at the end

23:39of December. And we're very sad

23:41about that. But there, there is

23:43an opportunity for that. It's

23:44just we have to get there. And

23:46I think probably in another

23:47year we should be there.

23:50>> Okay. So if I hear you

23:51correctly, I for one, I didn't

23:53know there was a neighborhood

23:54association in every single

23:55neighborhood. Is that what

23:56you're saying?

23:57>> No. In every quadrant,

23:58there's at least one major one.

24:00And each quadrant, all four

24:01quadrants. So not every

24:03neighborhood. Yeah.

24:04>> So that's different, right?

24:06>> Yes it is. Yeah.

24:07>> Okay. And I think that's

24:09really where my question is

24:11building building capacity. And

24:13maybe it's not a neighborhood

24:14association, but it's some way

24:17to, and I'm glad to see in year

24:19two that it seemed more

24:20equitable across the quadrants.

24:22But we do know that the

24:25neighborhoods that have the

24:26more sophisticated neighborhood

24:28associations are the ones who

24:29are going to have more access

24:31to the resource.

24:32>> And that that was the reason

24:33for the Nia staff, so that they

24:35could really work one on one

24:36with folks that didn't

24:38necessarily have that capacity.

24:41>> Right. But we're still

24:42talking about $2,500 versus

24:45$10,000. So that's.

24:46>> Unless they partner.

24:47>> Unless they partner with

24:48another neighborhood

24:49association. So there has to be

24:51some agreement to that. I'm

24:53just, I'm just hoping that if

24:55it sounds like there's a

24:57concerted effort to make this

24:59more and more equitable, which

25:00is really exciting. The program

25:02itself is great. I do think

25:04that it is in some ways, like

25:06the application process is a

25:08little bit cumbersome.

25:09>> It is.

25:10>> For just regular community

25:12folk, right.

25:14>> And we did appreciate that

25:15the community foundation gave

25:17it's really they, they gave us

25:19access to their infrastructure

25:20to do it because, you know,

25:22hard copies would have been a

25:24nightmare. So but we recognize

25:26that not everybody can navigate

25:27that. So that's where the staff

25:31comes in. But I hear you, I do.

25:33And we toyed with making it

25:35more than 10,000. And perhaps

25:37as we get more funders, we can

25:39take a look at that. But it's

25:40really difficult because there

25:42were some folks that got

25:44$10,000 that weren't able to

25:45spend it all, and we had to

25:47really work with them to spend

25:48it. So it's, it's tricky to

25:52navigate.

25:52>> Got it.

25:53>> Thank you.

25:55>> Any additional questions,

25:58Council member Monroe.

26:02>> So if a smaller organization

26:04is partnering with a

26:05neighborhood association, does

26:08the amount that's going to that

26:09smaller organization count

26:11towards the 10,000 maximum that

26:12the neighborhood association

26:14can receive?

26:16>> Well.

26:17>> It depends like a block club

26:19could apply separately for

26:20$2,500 and partner and

26:22collaborate with a neighborhood

26:23on a larger scale project who

26:25would be eligible for 10,000.

26:28So it would still be two

26:29different organizations, but

26:31they would get more money

26:32working together. And by

26:34collaboration.

26:36>> So there was it's just not

26:37clear to me. So there would be

26:39the $10,000 limit then for the

26:41neighborhood association total

26:43for whatever projects, even if

26:45they're partnering with

26:46somebody smaller.

26:51>> Conceivably it could be

26:5312,500, right? So if because

26:54the block club could get their

26:56amount, and then if they did

26:57something with the neighborhood

26:59association, that would also be

27:00helpful to them, they would

27:02have access to some of that

27:0410,000.

27:04>> Okay. So then still the

27:06neighborhood association is

27:07capped off at ten grand

27:10regardless. Thank you.

27:13>> Council member Martin.

27:17>> Just a comment. Just thank

27:18you all so much for doing this.

27:21Neighbors across the city

27:21really love this program. So

27:24just thank you.

27:28>> Any further questions? Yeah.

27:33Thank you to staff for the

27:34presentation. And certainly

27:35thank you to the funders who

27:36have stepped up and will be

27:38voting on receiving their

27:40dollars shortly. So we'll move

27:42over to the legislative

27:44business. Introductory number

27:46381, which is amending

27:49ordinance number 2026-4,

27:52related to the Youth Arts

27:53Program. Any questions,

27:55comments or concerns? Council

27:58member Monroe.

28:01>> Are there outcome measures

28:02that can be shared with us?

28:05>> Hi. Heather Anderson,

28:07subbing in for Kevin Kelly

28:08tonight who is unable to attend.

28:09I'm happy to follow up with you

28:11with that. Yes.

28:14>> Thank you.

28:16>> No further questions,

28:17Councilmember Monroe. Okay.

28:21Councilmember Smith.

28:23>> Even though this is a small

28:24amount of money, I know that

28:26we're operating in a deficit.

28:27So I'm just trying to

28:29understand why we're increasing

28:31the dollar amount. If we have a

28:35deficit that we're operating

28:36out of.

28:38>> Thank you. I appreciate that

28:40consideration. So this was

28:43$250,000 of percent for the

28:44arts funding that was set aside

28:46for the project centering Youth

28:50in 2023. And the Centering

28:52Youth program, or project, is

28:54an effort to create one art

28:56park per quadrant. So again,

28:58this is percent for the arts

28:59funding that was set aside

29:02three years ago.

29:06>> Any further questions here?

29:09If not, I will take a motion on

29:11introductory number 381.

29:12>> Move it.

29:14>> Been moved and seconded. All

29:15in favor, please say aye. Aye.

29:17Any opposed? Motion carries.

29:20Introductory number 382

29:21authorizing and a mandatory

29:22agreement with Rochester Area

29:24Community Foundation for

29:26Neighbors in Action, which we

29:27just heard about. Is there any

29:30reason why we need to think

29:32about a further amendment,

29:34Joanne, given that you just

29:35mentioned that there are

29:36additional dollars coming in,

29:37or is this fine as is? Do you

29:39want me to hold on to this?

29:41>> It's fine as is because

29:43community, the Canandaigua

29:45National Bank dollars go

29:46directly to the community

29:47Foundation.

29:48>> Got it. Okay, so we are

29:52amending the existing agreement

29:54with RA c f to implement the

29:56third year of Nia. Any

29:58questions, comments or concerns

29:59about this? If not, I'll take a

30:01motion. Move it. It's been

30:03moved and seconded. All in

30:05favor, please say I I any

30:07opposed? Motion carries.

30:10Introduction number 383.

30:11Authorizing agreement related

30:12to cannabis dispensary

30:13wayfinding services. I want to

30:16thank the administration. I

30:17believe it was Council two

30:18years ago, provided what I

30:22would probably refer to as seed

30:24dollars for bloom Rock Council

30:26member Patterson and I went to

30:28their inaugural group of, of,

30:31of incubated businesses. And it

30:32was a wonderful event. And I'm

30:34glad to see that that, among

30:35other things, is being funded

30:37still. I just love to ask the

30:39administration, and I'm not

30:41sure if this is the deputy

30:42mayor. Patrick, I know, Xavier,

30:43you've been working on this. If

30:45you could just give like a very

30:46high level overview of what

30:48bloom will be doing with these

30:49dollars.

30:52>> Yes. So we are planning to

30:55enter an agreement with them to

30:58essentially provide wayfinding

31:00services and access to an

31:02education library for

31:05entrepreneurs looking to enter

31:06the cannabis industry. The firm

31:10bloom Rock will also act as

31:14kind of a liaison with the city,

31:17helping with setting up

31:18meetings for licensing,

31:21compliance and security

31:22readiness, and also hosting

31:26because their model is kind of

31:28community centered. So it's in

31:31addition to guiding aspiring

31:35entrepreneurs, they also want

31:37to inform the community about

31:38the industry. And, you know,

31:42Rochester specific market facts.

31:44So they'll be hosting info

31:47sessions in community locations,

31:50as well as roundtable

31:52discussions with entrepreneurs,

31:54hopefully inside the city

31:55council chambers. And they'll

31:57be providing us with a schedule

31:59of that. And they'll also be

32:01reporting out there. All the

32:05work that they do. So the

32:06number of clients served,

32:09applications, supported all of

32:12those measures.

32:14>> Great. Before I turn it over

32:16to Council Vice President, just

32:17a quick question here is, so

32:21you mentioned I forget the

32:22exact word you used, but but

32:25that bloom will help to liaise

32:28with prospective entrepreneurs.

32:30I know early on, one of the

32:33challenges for a lot of folks

32:34trying to open up a dispensary

32:36has been location restrictions,

32:40not necessarily restrictions

32:42from the city, but the state

32:43has rules about distance from

32:45church and school. And I know a

32:48lot of dispensaries have had

32:51challenges figuring out where

32:52our viable locations. And at

32:54the time, the city had a staff

32:56member who was kind of handling

32:58those conversations. Is that

33:00are we now asking bloom to

33:02handle those conversations, or

33:03are we still going to be doing

33:05it in-house?

33:06>> They will be handling those

33:08conversations.

33:09>> So they are going to be very

33:12tightly connected with, I

33:14assume, the entire business

33:16permitting department and

33:18through NBD.

33:19>> Yes.

33:20>> Okay. That's great. I think

33:21that's a great idea. Council

33:22Vice President.

33:23>> Thank you. And I'm not sure

33:25if it was bloom Rock or another

33:27organization, but and I

33:28understand you may not have

33:29this answer, but if you can ask

33:32what will there be additional

33:33expungement opportunities

33:36facilitated through by way of

33:38educating folks on that for the

33:40legacy cannabis salespersons? I

33:46know that there was a window. I

33:48don't know if that window has

33:50closed, but that's something to

33:51just just that I was interested

33:53in knowing about.

33:55>> Okay, yeah, we can get back

33:56to you on that unless Patrick

33:58has anything.

34:01>> You took the words out of my

34:03mouth. Okay. We'll get back to.

34:04>> You on that.

34:05>> Thank you.

34:06>> Thank you.

34:07>> Council Member Martin.

34:08>> When do you expect reporting

34:09to be completed?

34:12>> So we haven't determined

34:15when this year agreement will

34:17begin. We're working through

34:19that with the firm, but they

34:21will be reporting out quarterly

34:23over the course of the

34:25agreement.

34:26>> Got it. And do you have a

34:28plan built in to report what

34:29you all find to Council

34:31quarterly? Also.

34:34>> We can work on that.

34:35>> Sounds good. Thank you.

34:38>> Council Member Leslie Smith.

34:40>> I think the last time bloom

34:42Rock was here, one of the

34:43questions that I had was about

34:45healthy consumption and the

34:48impact to young people in and

34:50around our communities. I don't

34:53see that as being a part of

34:55this contract that we'll be

34:58establishing with them. Are

34:59there other organizations that

35:00are, are, are working on those

35:02kinds of things? And I'm

35:03thinking with respect to like

35:07cigarette campaigns, there are

35:08some social responsibility that

35:11is usually associated with the

35:15consumption of substances of

35:16any kind. And so I'm just

35:18curious, what strategies does

35:19the city have? What strategies

35:21are we expecting any of the

35:24dispensaries to have, or

35:26organizations like bloom Rock?

35:30>> For the for bloom Rock, they

35:36are not focusing in on, you

35:39know, tobacco and other

35:41products. But for the info

35:43sessions, I think the, the

35:45intent of them is to talk a lot

35:47about the impacts of the

35:50industry within the community.

35:53And we can definitely follow up

35:55on other administrative

35:59administration plans for

36:02educating the youth and others

36:04about the the poor impacts.

36:07>> Okay. That I didn't think

36:09that they were doing anything

36:10with tobacco, but marijuana is

36:12a substance. So that's, that's

36:13what I'm referring to

36:15specifically. I, if I am not

36:18mistaken, I believe Miss Brown

36:19told me that she was not

36:21concerned about consumption.

36:23That was not her responsibility.

36:25So I would like to see in

36:27writing what the response would

36:30be in terms of social

36:32responsibility.

36:33>> Okay. We can get back to you

36:35on that.

36:35>> Council member Patterson.

36:38>> Well, they actually have

36:40done work in the past on youth

36:43and cannabis, working

36:45collaboratively with the state

36:46of New York with OCM. So that's

36:48work that they have done in the

36:50past. I'm sure that if you

36:51reach out to them and if you

36:53want, I can have precious call

36:54you directly, but you okay?

36:59Okay. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah,

37:01sure. But I'll, I, I can

37:02definitely, if you're

37:03comfortable with me having

37:04precious give you direct

37:05contact to you, I'll have her

37:07give you a call and she'll tell

37:08you everything that they've

37:09done in that space. They, they

37:11actually, they, they do that

37:12and they do outreach to the

37:13faith community in this space

37:15too. That's all of the stuff

37:16that they've been doing without

37:17funding, and they've been doing

37:19that for quite some time. And

37:20that my experience with them is

37:22that they don't they do well

37:26more than we've ever asked of

37:27them for the amount of funding

37:29that we've given them. But I

37:30can have her call you directly.

37:32You can explain everything to

37:33you.

37:34>> Okay.

37:35>> Any further questions here?

37:38I'll just ask one more. And

37:39Xavier, thanks for the

37:40presentation. And I know

37:43there's there's been just some

37:45general. Reorganization with

37:51within the mayor's office, the

37:53administration of the way this

37:54the work of the cannabis

37:55industry is working. I guess I

37:57just want to understand, is

37:59Blum reporting directly to you

38:02and the mayor's office? Are

38:03they reporting not reporting to

38:05the wrong word? Are they

38:06checking in regularly with the

38:07mayor's office with NBD? Who

38:10exactly is their liaison?

38:12>> I'll answer that. So we're

38:13overseeing that out of the

38:14mayor's office.

38:15>> Got it.

38:16>> Okay. And I'm assuming that

38:19we'll see in in whatever the

38:20report that was asked for

38:21before that you all are going

38:23to be working and we'll see

38:24kind of the application end of

38:26it, which will come from NBD,

38:27but we'll funnel through the

38:29mayor's office. Great. Okay,

38:31then I will take a motion on

38:33383. It's been moved and

38:35seconded. All in favor, please

38:37say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

38:39Motion carries. Introductory

38:41number 384, which is

38:45authorizing an agreement for

38:47merchant services, particularly

38:50with our with several of our

38:51parking garages. Any questions

38:54comments or concerns here.

38:56Council Member Martin.

38:57>> Does the credit card fee

38:59amount passed on to the

39:00customer say the stay the same

39:01and if so, what is that amount?

39:05>> I will.

39:06>> Ask the treasurer to speak

39:09to this.

39:10>> So currently.

39:11>> These are for in-person

39:13transactions. As a person or

39:15patron is exiting a garage.

39:17They are not getting passed

39:18down fees at this point and

39:20will not get fees charged going

39:24forward.

39:27>> Great. Thank you.

39:30>> Any further questions here?

39:32If not, I'll take a motion on

39:34384. Move it. It's been moved

39:35and seconded. All in favor,

39:37please say aye. Aye. Any

39:39opposed? Motion carries.

39:41Introduction 385. Amending the

39:43Municipal code to establish

39:44monthly reserve parking in the

39:45Genesee Crossroads, South

39:46Avenue and Mortimer Street

39:47garage parking garages. Any

39:50questions, comments or concerns?

39:53Council member Martin.

39:56>> Can you talk to me a bit

39:58about the timing of changing

40:00the fees and expanding the

40:02option to have reserved parking

40:05areas in these three garages?

40:09>> Sarah Nowak, the parking

40:11director, should be able to

40:12answer that.

40:15>> Yes.

40:16>> There there really isn't any

40:17correlation. We're just have we

40:19just want to extend reserve

40:21parking to the additional city

40:22owned garages is an opportunity

40:25for some businesses who feel

40:27that

40:27>> There's a need.

40:29>> Got it. And would there be?

40:33How are. So in addition to the

40:36reserve parking, there is a

40:37very small fee increase. Our

40:41current customers who pay for

40:44parking in these garages. Have

40:46they been notified of this

40:47upcoming change?

40:49>> Not yet. It would be an

40:51opportunity for those who are

40:53parking irregular parking that

40:55would like to park in a

40:56reserved parking area.

40:57>> Got it. So there's also an

40:59increase I in the legislation.

41:02So for separately for reserve

41:04parking, the amount that people

41:05currently pay would go up

41:06starting on December 1st.

41:11>> January 1st. And it's only

41:13if you want to park and reserve

41:14parking.

41:17>> OMB legislation. The date we

41:19had December 1st, so.

41:21>> O December f the rates, the

41:24rate, the new rates that go

41:25into effect. Is that what

41:27you're asking?

41:27>> Yes, because there are two

41:29different things happening. Yes,

41:30yes. So the reserve parking

41:32becomes available when.

41:36>> January 1st.

41:36>> And the rates increase when.

41:39>> January 1st.

41:40>> So then why does it say

41:42December and the legislation I

41:45guess.

41:55>> Sorry. What was the question.

41:58>> On the legislation. I

41:59believe it says that in section

42:02two these. This ordinance shall

42:03take effect on December 1st,

42:062026. And based on our

42:09conversation, it sounds like

42:10the intent is to have it take

42:13effect on January 1st, 2027. So.

42:17>> Oh I see. So are we talking

42:19about the effective date of the

42:20ordinance or when these changes

42:21are going to go into effect,

42:23because the ordinance

42:24authorizes the director to

42:25implement these changes, but

42:27she can implement those on on

42:29the appropriate schedule. I

42:30think that's what we're talking

42:31around here.

42:33>> So can is it so that's not

42:37clear based on the legislation.

42:39So just to make sure it's clear

42:40and folks know, I would ask

42:43that this is held and that the

42:45administration amends. To

42:47clarify, unless there's some

42:48other reason I see.

42:49>> I want to say so the next

42:51monthly billing cycle for

42:53monthly parking would not be

42:54effective until January 1st of

42:572027.

42:57>> Got it.

42:58>> Got it. So in between now

42:59and then there will be time.

43:01Okay, so bills will not change

43:03until January 1st, 2027, right?

43:05>> They will have already

43:06issued the bills that would

43:08have been due on December 1st.

43:09By the time this legislation

43:11goes into effect. Got it. Right.

43:13So the it would not take effect

43:15until January 1st, that next

43:17monthly billing cycle.

43:18>> Okay. That's helpful. Thank

43:19you for for clarifying all of

43:21you.

43:22>> And can I just I want to

43:24piggyback on Councilmember

43:25Martins question. So I

43:26understand that the I, I, I

43:30understand the idea of offering

43:32a different reserve parking

43:33rate, but typically we would do

43:35this at budget time. We change

43:36all sorts of rates around

43:38budget time. So is there what's

43:40the particular reason this is

43:42happening now in our in the Q

43:43amp. A that that we had that's

43:47that's documented here was just

43:50in part that there is business

43:52opportunity that maybe wasn't

43:54there six months ago. There's a

43:55need for more reserve parking,

43:57but can someone just speak a

43:58little bit more to that as to

44:00why doing it now versus doing

44:01it at budget time?

44:04>> Sarah, can you speak to that?

44:05>> Yes.

44:06>> I, yes, I can, there's a,

44:08there's a demand for it now at

44:10Mortimer Street Garage and

44:12they're starting to become a

44:13demand for it. And the other

44:15garages that do not offer it

44:16yet. So we just wanted to get

44:18ahead of it.

44:19>> Great. And the and that

44:20demand is not coming from

44:21individuals. It's coming from

44:23businesses that are trying to

44:24buy up blocks of, of, of spots

44:27and garages.

44:28>> Even businesses that have

44:30employees that are paying for

44:31their own parking.

44:33>> Great.

44:34>> Okay. Any further questions

44:36on. 385? If not, I'll take a

44:42motion. It's been moved and

44:44seconded. All in favor, please

44:45say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

44:48Motion carries. Introduction

44:50number 386 authorizing and a

44:54mandatory agreement for state

44:55lobbying services. Any

44:56questions, comments or concerns?

45:00Councilmember Martin.

45:00>> Thank you. Do you have a

45:04report of the lobbying

45:05activities this firm has

45:06engaged in over the last year?

45:08>> We can provide that in

45:09writing.

45:10>> And writing. Thank you. And

45:11are you able to provide that

45:14before speak to council so I

45:15can have a chance to review it?

45:17Not right before the committee

45:18meeting.

45:19>> We'll provide it as soon as

45:20we can.

45:22>> Got it. Additionally, can

45:26you send a copy of the contract

45:28you have with the firm? Thank

45:31you.

45:34>> Our fees changing at all?

45:38Doesn't look like it.

45:40>> And they are not.

45:41>> And I, I presume that one of

45:45the data points that is related

45:49to the the administration's

45:52satisfaction with this firm is

45:53that we saw increased state aid.

45:56Yes, generally speaking, I mean,

45:58that's the primary that's the

45:59primary objective of this firm

46:01for us.

46:03>> Yeah. So I think we've been

46:05very pleased we've been with

46:06them since 2023. They've been

46:10extremely responsive and

46:11they've provided good guidance

46:12on, among other things, how to

46:14approach getting in free state

46:16aid and just, you know, making

46:18sure that our voice is heard in

46:20Albany relative to folks that

46:22make those decisions. So we're

46:23very pleased with the

46:25relationship that we have.

46:26>> Great. Councilman Martin, I

46:28also like the the documents

46:30that you asked for, I think are,

46:31are things we should definitely

46:33take a look at. I'm I'm

46:34certainly happy with. I'd like

46:35to move it forward today and

46:37let let it let's get that

46:39information prior to voting on

46:40it with the full council.

46:41Anyone have any. Well, I'll I

46:43will ask for a motion. We'll

46:44see what happens. Move it. It's

46:46been moved. Councilmember

46:49Martin, would you move? Would

46:51you second it?

46:53>> I would like to see what

46:56they send over and have

46:57adequate time to review it. So

46:59if there's no second, I think I

47:01would prefer that it's held.

47:04>> Councilmember Smith are you

47:06going to second it? Okay, then

47:10we will hold this in committee,

47:14but I look forward to seeing

47:16that information. Deputy Mayor,

47:18and I would agree that

47:20certainly our voices, the the

47:22the city of Rochester has been

47:23well represented in Albany for

47:24the past couple of years. So

47:25looking forward to seeing that.

47:27And number 386, which is that

47:30was 386. Pardon me. Instructor

47:32number 387 is a resolution

47:35establishing the schedule for

47:36regular council meetings during

47:392027. I appreciate all the work

47:41that council staff did on this.

47:42I want to offer James Rajan an

47:45opportunity to say anything

47:46before. Any questions from

47:49council members?

47:53>> Well.

47:54>> Obviously, the schedule is

47:55the schedule somewhat in that

47:56we have a monthly cycle and we

47:58have to fit it in. And there's

48:00certain statutory requirements.

48:00We usually work very closely

48:02with budget and the

48:03administration on the on the

48:04statutory requirements around

48:05the budget. And to make sure we

48:07hit those dates. I know some

48:08council members did have

48:09questions about meeting times.

48:11Obviously, this legislation

48:12just pertains to when the

48:14council meetings are. We do

48:16conclude the other meetings

48:18scheduled on the transmittal

48:19just so everyone can see them.

48:21As far as meeting times, that

48:22would require changes to the

48:25rules of Council that were

48:27passed in the beginning of this

48:28year. So that would be

48:29something that would be

48:30addressed under the rules. But

48:31otherwise, yeah, a lot a lot of

48:33hard work. And I have to look

48:35to Jen on this one because she,

48:37she put in a lot of time to try

48:39and, and, and massage this and

48:41get everything to fit in. And

48:44we appreciate your

48:45consideration. And we're

48:47certainly able to answer any

48:48questions.

48:50>> Any questions. Council

48:54member Leslie Smith.

48:55>> Well, for one, I really

48:57appreciate having this this

48:59soon because my schedule books

49:02up relatively quickly. I am

49:04curious about other important

49:06dates and times that we would

49:08have. So like budget hearings,

49:10anything else that we might

49:11anticipate coming up in the

49:14upcoming year? How soon? I know

49:16those don't necessarily need to

49:18be voted on. At least I don't

49:19think so. But how soon might we

49:22be able to get those booked on

49:25our calendars?

49:25>> Sure. So thank you for the

49:28question. The other dates and

49:30times for like proposed work

49:32sessions, proposed public

49:33hearings for budget time were

49:35provided to you all. When we

49:38sent it out and asked for

49:40feedback ahead of this

49:41legislation being submitted

49:42within the cycle. And so those

49:46are the potential dates right

49:48now. And just as an

49:51administrative piece for you

49:52all to know, as soon as this

49:55legislation, should you all

49:56pass it, we will make sure that

49:57it gets all of those dates get

49:59on the calendar so that they

50:01are on your calendar, your

50:03calendar, and the

50:04administration's calendar for

50:062027.

50:06>> Like the budget hearings

50:08were included in that email. I

50:10somehow overlooked that, and I

50:11don't think it made it on my

50:13calendar just yet, but okay.

50:14Thank you.

50:15>> It's on the calendar that I

50:17that we sent around.

50:18>> Okay.

50:19>> Yeah. All right.

50:21>> Council member Martin.

50:25>> So just before I go further,

50:27I would like to ask for us to

50:29hold this. We were sent the.

50:31But before I go further, one

50:33important piece I want to say

50:34thank you, Jen and staff for

50:36all your hard work on this. I

50:37know it's not easy managing and

50:39putting all this together and

50:40coordinating. Coordinating a

50:41lot of pieces. There are

50:45certain aspects of this

50:46calendar that do not align with

50:50my availability, and there are

50:52some issues around getting the

50:55calendar late last month and

50:57being asked to vote for vote on

50:59it right now, one of the big

51:01questions we've consistently

51:02had is around moving the time

51:04so we can have more robust

51:06attendance. We've had questions

51:07about making the option for

51:10limited issues for people to

51:12attend via Zoom, and I feel

51:14that if we just continue

51:15changing the calendar and

51:16kicking down the can without

51:17companion legislation, we may

51:19end up in the same spot next

51:21year, a year later. So for

51:23right now, I think we may we

51:25should consider pausing and

51:26just having conversations and

51:28seeing what works for us, what

51:30works for everyone before

51:33moving forward. So I just want

51:35to propose that to colleagues.

51:38>> Any other questions or

51:40comments?

51:43>> I'm just wondering if we can

51:44have the conversation now like

51:47so if there are specific

51:49conflicts that maybe you have

51:50on your schedule and maybe I'm

51:52misunderstanding you, perhaps

51:53you're talking about the actual

51:55time committee starting at 4:00

51:57versus a 5 or 6:00 time. So

51:59that might be one thing, but

52:02would the dates change? Would

52:03you need the dates to also

52:05change with the time change?

52:06>> Yeah, I think there are some

52:08dates that wouldn't work for

52:09some of us. But more

52:11importantly importantly, I will

52:13I would like to talk about the

52:14time piece, and I'm very happy

52:16to have that discussion before

52:17getting on council. A lot of

52:19these meetings happened at six,

52:20some of them seven. And when I

52:22got on council, I came here

52:25anticipating that schedule and

52:27it was changed many times

52:28without my input. And now that

52:30we're here, we know there are

52:32certain people who are not even

52:34here today because of the time

52:35issue. As next year comes, we

52:37know there will also be

52:38struggles with making the 4

52:40p.m. meeting. So if it is at

52:42all possible to ensure that we

52:44have a more robust attendance,

52:46I want us to discuss whether we

52:47can move the meeting to five,

52:48five, 30 so people can pick up

52:50kids, get out of their full

52:52time jobs, and be able to come

52:54here and be here, because I

52:55know a lot of us and all of us

52:57want to be here.

52:58>> Yeah, I can definitely

53:00appreciate that. I think one of

53:01the reasons why it's at 4:00, I

53:05would say if I had my personal

53:07preference, having it after

53:08work time would probably be

53:09more convenient. But I also do

53:11know that we have city staffers

53:13that have to be here, who

53:14probably also have children

53:16that they have to pick up

53:17during daycare hours and

53:19whatnot. So that's probably

53:20something for us to, to

53:23consider what I am trying to do.

53:25And this is just really my

53:26personal thing, but I think

53:27this is the place to discuss it,

53:29since we can't really do that

53:30outside of a public meeting or

53:32a caucus trying to get meetings

53:35on my calendar in advance so I

53:37can work every other schedule

53:38around that. And I realize

53:40maybe everyone else can't do

53:41that. But I'm wondering, with

53:43the commitment that we made

53:46upon running and, and then

53:47understanding what our

53:48responsibility or expectations

53:50were here, if we can be a

53:53little bit more flexible. So if

53:55that's us 430 start, if it's a

53:575:00 start, if it's us getting

53:59this, I, you know, I just

54:02really am hoping to move this

54:04along as quickly as possible,

54:05whatever the resolve is. And I

54:07would love to hear from other

54:08council members as to, you know,

54:10you all's thoughts, concerns

54:13around changing start time,

54:15getting these dates on the

54:16calendar as soon as possible.

54:18Otherwise, I think more of us

54:19are going to have more

54:20conflicts the way, you know,

54:22schedules just keep now

54:23stacking up. I also do want to

54:25point out to the staff that I

54:27appreciate the amount of times

54:29in here where we have some

54:30space, right? Because the other

54:31thing is we as a council body,

54:34we meet 12 months out of the

54:35year. There aren't any other

54:37times that we take off. I don't

54:38know why that is either, but at

54:41least there are some times

54:42built into this schedule so

54:44that we can take vacation if

54:46needed. Because I do think that

54:49it's we we all made a promise

54:51to the community to be here as

54:53much as possible. So if there

54:54aren't times for people to take

54:56breaks, especially given that

54:57this is a second job for most

54:59of us, then, you know, it could

55:01lead to burnout and we want to

55:03be as effective as we possibly

55:04can for the people that we

55:06serve. But other council

55:07members thoughts?

55:09>> Yeah, I'll just I'll I'll

55:11share. Council member Leslie

55:12Smith I couldn't agree more. I

55:16think that we we made we made a

55:20commitment and we have city

55:21staff who this is their full

55:23time job and this is not our

55:24full time job. And respectfully,

55:27Councilmember Martin, there

55:28have ever been committee

55:29meetings at 6 or 7:00, not at

55:32least in the nine years I

55:33served or the 12 or 13 years

55:36that Council member Patterson

55:38served. I. And I agree,

55:41Councilmember Leslie Smith,

55:41that the sooner we have these

55:43things baked and on schedules,

55:45the easier it is to try to work

55:47around. And there's never going

55:48to be a perfect schedule. And

55:49that it's it's worthwhile to

55:51just do it. However, as we

55:53learned from the last

55:54introduction, introductory.

55:56We're not going to have enough

55:57on this committee to move it

55:58forward regardless. So there's

55:59going to be conversation. And

56:01and that conversation is not

56:03about the legislation. It

56:04doesn't sound like it sounds

56:05like it's about the council

56:06rules, which. Patrick, are

56:07there any stipulations about

56:10having those conversations? Not

56:13on the public record.

56:16>> Because you'd be amending

56:17the rules. It would be public

56:18business. But I, I think

56:20because this is all kind of

56:22operating, you guys should do

56:23your best to kind of think

56:25through how you talk to each

56:28other in smaller groups than

56:29quorum about some of these

56:30issues. And then if it needs to

56:32be brought to the full body to

56:34discuss, then you can do it in

56:36this forum. But I think there

56:37are opportunities for, you know,

56:38two Z three of you to talk

56:41through calendaring scheduling

56:42issues and rule issues and then

56:44bring proposals to the larger

56:45body or committee.

56:47>> Thanks. Vice President

56:48Harris.

56:49>> I, I agree that I love

56:52having the full schedule. I

56:54would like to commend our staff

56:56because they've they've there's

56:57been times when they were able

57:00to make adjustments to the

57:02times, you know, the times if

57:03instead of doing a three, 4:00

57:07or 415, 430, sometimes there's

57:09been mild adjustments to the

57:10schedule. And I think that if

57:12we work with our council staff,

57:13you know, in in advance to make

57:16those adjustments, like, you

57:17know, let them know if, you

57:19know, two weeks out, you have a

57:21problem with that time, connect

57:22with them and they can make

57:23those adjustments. They've been

57:24able to do that for me. I

57:26haven't had a lot of that in

57:28the past, but they've done it.

57:31>> So we will hold this

57:32legislation. Councilmember

57:33Smith, you had a comment.

57:34>> Yeah, I just want to say

57:36that I agree with Council

57:37Member Martin. I would love to

57:39have more discussion with my

57:40colleagues about ways in which

57:41we can find a time for

57:43committee so that, as she

57:45stated, everyone can. I

57:46understand that we all made a

57:47commitment. Absolutely. But we

57:49are everyday people. Some of us

57:50just work regular jobs. Some of

57:52us aren't in executive

57:53positions where our schedules

57:54are flexible and folks work a 9

57:57to 5. So it would be nice to

57:58have that conversation to see

58:00how we can make it so that the

58:04average person can sit in this

58:07position and not have to

58:08sacrifice. Being here, as some

58:10of our colleagues have done so

58:11far.

58:12>> Well, looking forward to

58:13those conversations. We'll hold

58:14this. And that concludes the

58:16work of the BFG committee.

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