This week's summary focuses on three Common Council meetings: the Legislation Committee, the Community Development Committee, and the Finance 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.

During the Legislation Committee Meeting, the members tested the first hybrid meeting where participants could attend virtually and in person. This meeting lasted 19 minutes. Council members attended in person, and speakers could participate remotely. Council approved one food store license during the meeting and tabled two special use permits in the Ellicott and Fillmore Districts. One special use permit at 1225-1227 Niagara was to put an outdoor patio as additional space was approved.

Council President Pridgen spoke about the importance of incentivizing the private purchase of electric vehicles with municipal charging stations throughout the City of Buffalo during the Community Development Committee Meeting. Pridgen said that the Department of Public Works, Parks, and Streets identified five locations for the charging stations and is working to dedicate infrastructure dollars to this endeavor.   

Chip Lawrence, Senior Manager of State Government Affairs at Verizon, spoke to the Common Council about installing a cell phone tower at Mercy Hospital. He agreed with Council Member Scanlon that current internet and cell phone coverage in South Buffalo is "congested." Verizon will add a tower to the existing rooftop that will look appropriate to a cityscape. According to Lawrence, rooftop installations are challenging because walls and floors must be opened, and a crane is needed, but "Verizon has the expertise to get it done over a 12-month period." 

​​The primary topic of discussion at this week's Finance Committee Meeting was the American Rescue Plan (ARP) spending plan—including discussion of the Northland Workforce Training Program contract and capital improvement projects that are underway—as well as the need for investment in strategic affordable housing projects, public health equity projects, the Hispanic Cultural Heritage Center, and sustainable food systems. Overall, there was a conversation about the many competing priorities for ARP funding and the need for transparent, efficient, equitable, and strategic spending of the funds. Other topics addressed included tabling a presentation by the Comptroller's Office on the second quarter gap report until the next meeting on March 15 and approving fund transfers.

The first ARP agenda item was to approve a $2 million subgrant contract with the Northland Workforce Training Center as part of the ARP spending plan. Council Member Wyatt voiced concern that the Common Council does not have enough information about the utilization of Northland's workforce training programming or the outcomes associated with participation in the program to approve the subgrant. Jessica Brown, the Director of Administration and Finance for the City of Buffalo, shared that the contract includes critical performance. Funding disbursement is contingent on meeting specific outcome goals. Council Member Wyatt emphasized the importance of carefully monitoring the effectiveness of how ARP funds are spent. The Council tabled contract approval until it can review additional information about the goals and performance-to-date of the Northland Workforce Training Center.  

Jessica Brown shared that most ARP spending since the last Common Council update was on capital improvement projects, which totaled $71 million. She also shared that the Department of Public Works filed a request for reengaging an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) consultant for improvements to McCarthy, JFK, and Johnny B. Wiley Parks.

During a broader discussion on the ARP spending plan, there was a meaningful conversation about the need for affordable housing. Council Member Rivera gave an impassioned statement about the need for the Common Council to advocate for more strategic affordable housing planning that specifically focuses on preventing displacement in "Renaissance" neighborhoods in which housing costs are rising—such as Larkin, Downtown, Fruit Belt, Niagara Street, Elmwood Village, Hertel, and the West Side. While $16.2 million of the ARP funds are for affordable housing, Council Member Rivera was adamant that we need to intentionally and explicitly target neighborhoods in which long-time residents are being priced out as part of the ARP-funded affordable housing efforts.

Council Member Nowakowski similarly spoke to the importance of cultivating mixed-income neighborhoods through strategic planning. Council Member Wyatt voiced concern about the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency's planned role in disbursing roughly $2 million in ARP affordable housing funds for rent relief for residents, noting the agency hasn't been transparent historically or efficient in its use of funds. Wyatt also requested that Brendan Mehaffy, the Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, speak to the Common Council to report on recent affordable housing studies and contextualize the conversation on affordable housing strategies with data.

Council Member Rivera also shared that several constituents recently shared their concern about the lack of women's representation on the Common Council and the need for advocating for public health equity, children's needs, and childcare. Jessica Brown said that $9 million in ARP funds are set aside for public health equity and that $1.5 million for children's mental health and $1.5 million for women's health already received their allocations. Brown shared that the application for community-based organizations interested in receiving sub-grants for ARP funds will be available in late March/early April. Groups can sign up for alerts on the request for proposals at http://www.buffalony.gov/1447/Open-Call-for-Concepts-for-ARP-Programs.

Council Member Rivera inquired about the allocation for the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Center. Jessica Brown mentioned anticipation for the City of Buffalo to commit $1 million through the $20 million Community Center Renovation program.

Joe Kurtz—a community member who also serves as an organizer for the Greater Buffalo Urban Growers Network and Vice-Chair of the Food Policy Network of Buffalo and Erie County, among other titles—spoke about the need for a larger investment in promoting sustainable food systems locally. Specifically, he raised concerns that the $1.5 million set aside in ARP funds is inadequate for the level of need, especially in the context of increased food insecurity due to the pandemic. He advocated for a higher level of sustained municipal government investment in community groups working to promote access to healthy food. Kurtz also raised concerns with the City of Buffalo's process of soliciting public input on the ARP fund planning, given that only about 200 citizens responded to the online surveys. Council Member Wyatt emphasized the importance of the city sustainably investing in healthy food options as part of its commitment to public health equity, including through ARP funds, but also beyond the current ARP funding horizon.   

As the committee discussed many ARP funding priorities, Council Member Rivera proposed taking a decentralized, neighborhood-based approach to ARP fund disbursement planning. He would also like to center neighborhood stability as the goal of ARP funding.

Council Members Rivera and Bollman spoke on the need to invest in small local businesses and developing commercial districts in order to better stabilize communities. This is not currently a focus in the ARP funding spending plan.

As several Council members voiced the need to step back and reassess the most strategic and equitable uses of ARP funds, Jessica Brown pointed out that the money needs to be obligated by 2024 and spent by 2026 according to the federal requirements. She also was explicit that any increases to ARP-funded projects are possible through an amendment process, but that increases in the budget for projects will require reductions in other projects.

At the end of the meeting, the committee voted to approve a funds transfer of approximately $1.5 million to support legal counsel fees, road repairs for the Bird Island Pier—which will ultimately be 75% reimbursed by FEMA—snow removal costs, and an increase in demolition costs. The committee also voted to approve a $70,000 transfer of funds to support roof repairs and a gym addition to the Buffalo Museum of Science.

He promised that this new tower would meet demand at Mercy Hospital, Cazenovia Park, and local schools. Lawrence mentioned that cell phone usage in South Buffalo (both voice and data) increased exponentially during the pandemic. There was a shift away from traditional use because adults worked from home and kids distance learning. Lawrence said that Verizon tries to "adjust and modify" to demand. 

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