This week’s summary focuses on four Common Council meetings: the Legislation Committee, the Community Development Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Education Committee. The Legislation Committee focuses on local laws, ordinances, and general legislation—except for civil matters. The Community Development Committee focuses on matters pertaining to work or improvement using revenue from another government unit. The Finance Committee concerns all matters about the budget and issuance of bonds. The Education Committee focuses on issues regarding teachers, schools, school property, training, and the Board of Education.

During the brief, 23-minute Legislation Committee Meeting, the Council approved six food store licenses, two used car dealer licenses, one lodging license, and four special use permits. Two items regarding plastic utensils and the plastic foam packaging ban were brought up but were received and filed and not discussed. 

During the Community Development Meeting, New York State Trooper Representatives Michael O'Bryan and Adrienne Threats spoke to council members about a statewide recruitment campaign designed to hire up to 2,000 troopers over the next two to three years. Currently, New York State Troopers are 88% white males—a composition that state leaders want to change. O'Bryan and Threats are committed to diversification and recruitment in urban areas. 

Trooper candidates must be at least 20 years old and have earned at least 60 college credits. The selection process includes an entrance exam, a physical fitness test, and a medical exam. After completing a six-month police academy in Albany, the entry salary for a New York State trooper is $82,677. You can find more information at www.joinstatepolice.ny.gov.

Council Member Scanlon reported that parts of the South District are experiencing a cell phone dead zone. The dead zone is in the epicenter of the town and impacts Mercy Hospital, Cazenovia Park, and a number of schools. Scanlon stated that residents of South Buffalo pay Verizon and deserve adequate services in return. He requested that a representative from Verizon attend the Buffalo Common Council's Community Development meeting on Tuesday, March 1, to discuss this issue further. 

Council Member Wyatt addressed Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) representatives who were in attendance to answer questions about staffing shortages and bus route changes. James Morrell, Deputy Director of Public Affairs, reported that the NFTA is short 60 operators and is recruiting new drivers. Training is a six- to eight-week process. A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required, so the NFTA is holding preparation sessions for the CDL permit. 

In the meantime, Morrell explained that the staff shortage forced temporary modifications to bus routes. Rob Jones, Manager of Service Planning, said he held public forums and took a survey of 600 NFTA riders to decide on cuts that would cause the least amount of harm. The express network was suspended (which affects primarily suburban riders), and bus frequencies were removed on weekends. Morrell promised that these routes would be restored when staffing needs are met.

Council Members Wyatt and Nowakowski insisted that the NFTA representatives address the issue of clearing snow out of bus shelters during big winter storms. They argued that city residents and local business owners need help during snowstorms and that expecting property owners to clear the snow is unrealistic. Wyatt insisted, "There is no way some businesses can clear that amount of snow." Nowakowski pointed out that city plows are forced to push snow directly into the bus shelters, and the NFTA knows this. Therefore, expecting property owners to clear the right of way "doesn't make sense." Wyatt and Nowakowski mentioned the intense impact that snow piles have on people who are elderly and disabled. Assistant Corporation Counsel Carin Gordon explained that Law 206 of the New York State Code requires the property owner to remove snow and debris from bus shelters.  

Council Member Scanlon noted an uptick in vehicle thefts. He said that drivers want their cars to heat up during cold temperatures while they run inside a store for a cup of coffee. Scanlon insisted that not everyone can afford an expensive remote car starter, so thieves take advantage. He believes that drivers should not be ticketed if their car is stolen while it is left running for a moment and argues that this ticketing practice be discontinued.

The Common Council passed a motion Council Member Bollman sponsored to adopt "Senior Awareness Day" on September 14 in the City of Buffalo. Starr Valentino spoke about the difficulties that many senior citizens encounter in their daily lives. He explained that elderly individuals using wheelchairs and walkers have heating problems and hot water issues in senior complexes like the Walden Apartment Complex. "Elderly people are crying out for help," he said. Valentino recommended that the Common Council pass resolutions to promote respect for seniors and establish safeguards to protect them.

The main agenda items for this week's Finance Committee Meeting include:

• A cash flow report for December 2021;
• An update on the city's interfund loans;
• An update on the status of the water debt forgiveness program;
• A review of the current status of American Rescue Plan-funded programs and projects; and
• The recommended approval of several bond-funded purchases. 

Deputy Comptroller Delano Dowell provided the City's December 2021 cash flow report. The City of Buffalo closed December 2021 with a positive cash balance of $11.8 million, in contrast with December 2020's negative balance of -$3.7 million, and December 2019's closing balance of just over $114,000. The significant positive cash balance was attributed to the American Rescue Plan funds that helped the City pay off pension and debt payments and increased revenues from sales taxes. Council members asked for an update on the Tribal Compact settlement and timeline. The state maintains that the Seneca Nation owes it approximately $47 million in gaming revenues—about $8-11 million per year—since it stopped making payments in 2017 after the disputed expiration of a gaming compact agreement. A judge recently ruled against the Seneca Nation, and the City of Buffalo expected to receive a portion of the back payments this year. However, Donna Estrich, Commissioner of Administration, Finance, Policy and Urban Affairs, shared that the case had been appealed to the federal level, and the status remains unclear. 

Deputy Comptroller Dowell then reviewed the monthly interfund loan report. Interfund loans are loans made between different city accounts used to finance projects before receiving grant funds and other revenues. There is currently an $18.2 million interfund loan balance, with 37 interfund loan projects active now. The Comptroller's Office publishes monthly reports that itemize all open loans along with dollar amounts and timelines for repayment. 

Jessica Brown, the City's Director of Administration and Finance, shared the executed contract between the Buffalo Water Board and Promise Network, Inc., allowing the water debt forgiveness program to move forward. Promise Network, Inc. was selected to manage the $13 million water debt forgiveness program through the American Rescue Plan funds. The program has not yet defined its eligibility criteria. Council President Pridgen asked for and received the City's commitment that the eligibility criteria would not be finalized without review and approval by the Common Council. Commissioner Brown shared that the water debt forgiveness program should launch in late March or early April. 

Commissioner Brown then presented the recently released status report on the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funded projects, which covers the period of March through December 2021. These reports will be available quarterly. Commissioner Brown only shared highlights of the 25-page report, but the full report is available HERE. Highlights include:

• Many project working groups are meeting now to define goals, map out timelines, and plan for their roll out. The City of Buffalo plans to put out an RFP call for community-based organizations for all ARP-funded projects at once, and they expect this will be in mid-March or early-April. Interested organizations can sign up for updates on funding opportunities at https://www.buffalony.gov/1390/American-Rescue-Plan-Funds;
• The Department of Public Works already asked for permission to hire a consultant to begin improvements to Shoshone Park;
• The Smart Sewer and Water Infrastructure Build Out project already has hired personnel, and construction will begin in October 2022;
• The Replacing Old Lead Lines (ROLL) Expansion project has already begun, with $2.5 million has been spent to date. Two hundred thirty-eight residential properties had their water lead lines replaced;
• At the next Common Council meeting, the Council will be asked to vote on contacts with the Northland Workforce Development Center and the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation, and will receive updates on the Johnny B. Wiley Reconstruction Project, Cultural Institution Support Program, the Park Access Equity Program, and the Community Center Renovation Program;
• Council Member Bollman remains in close contact with Commissioner Brown on all ARP-funded projects to serve as a liaison to the Common Council as a whole; and
• The Road Maintenance Fund was already approved, so each Council Member already has access to $400,000 for road maintenance and repair within their districts. An additional $400,000 per district will become available in May after the sale of bonds. Council Members can work directly with the Department of Public Works to launch projects. 

In response to questions, Commissioner Brown clarified that each council member should communicate directly with the Department of Public Works to track infrastructure spending within each district. He also clarified that ARP funds could not be used toward snow removal equipment. General funds could accommodate this purpose, but it would require a budget amendment and reductions on other budget lines. 

Finally, the committee voted to recommend approval of bond resolutions for: 

• Purchasing 20 police vehicles (Council President Pridgen requested a statement of the rationale for why they aren't electric vehicles if not purchased);
• Parks operation equipment;
• Zoo facility improvements;
• New fire stations;
• A new police training facility;
• Demolition of properties;
• Downtown ballpark improvements;
• Dump truck snowplows;
• East Side Transfer Station improvements;
• Asbestos abatement;
• High lifts;
• Gates Fountain Circle improvements;
• Generators for fire buildings;
• Highway, bridge, and city road infrastructure improvements;
• Improvements to the History Museum;
• Improvements in city parks;
• Park perimeter security improvements;
• Pedestrian bridge at RCWJCP;
• Sanitation vehicles; and
• Tree removal and replacement

This week's main agenda items for the Education Committee Meeting included a general update on the Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) and a request to provide days off for select Muslim holidays within the BPS calendar. Dr. William Kerestes, Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, Planning, and Community Engagement for the school district, presented BPS updates.

He provided a brief update on the district's response to the recent violence at McKinley High School. BPS is replacing the building principal this week and adding additional School Resource Officers (SROs) at arrival and dismissal. There is a desire to expand partnerships with several community-based organizations that provide student support within McKinley and across the rest of the district. The district is hiring more school social workers. 

Concerning planning for and monitoring COVID-19 reopening, Dr. Kerestes reported that the superintendent releases a detailed operational brief at least once per month, including a detailed analysis of all operational considerations. The district will continue to keep existing COVID-19 protocols in place, and it continues to take a cautious approach. 

There continues to be significant bus driver shortages and shortages of full-time certified teachers and substitute teachers. BPS is recruiting aggressively for full-time certified teachers as there are currently 45 vacancies. The district anticipates a significant number of retirements in the spring. 

Ninety-eight percent of students currently have a district-provided computer, and the remaining 2% of students are either using their own devices or are transitioning into the district from elsewhere. Every student also has the option to have their own internet hotspot. 

Council President Pridgen asked Dr. Kerestes what specific supports the district needs from the wider community. Dr. Kerestes invited the Common Council to participate in superintendent town halls moving forward. Pridgen encouraged the district to consider engaging in more collaborative problem-solving sessions with stakeholder groups, not just listening sessions in the community. Council Member Wyatt suggested finding more ways for the Common Council and Board of Education to work more closely together to support the schools. Council Member Bollman shared that he and Board of Education President Lou Petrucci are in conversation about more collaboration moving forward. 

After the general update on the BPS, the Education Committee turned to a request to honor select Muslim holidays in the BPS calendar. Speakers from the Buffalo Islamic Cultural Center and Buffalo Muslim Community Services requested that all students receive days off of school for ​​Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. 

Council Member Bollman shared that there is a bill at the state level passed the State Senate that includes days off for both Muslim holidays requested locally, the Chinese Lunar New Year, and holidays from other faith traditions. He shared that the next steps are to monitor the state-level bill and discuss this request with the BPS Board President.

Need more than just a summary? Contact us at info@ppgbuffalo.org, or find full meeting information and schedules here: http://buffalony.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx