Meeting highlights include: shift Erie Community College’s (“ECC”) proposal for a Health Sciences Center for Excellence to its City Campus, regulate mobile food vehicle vendors, reconstruction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Humboldt Basin Splash Pad, design, inspection and construction of the 500 block of Main Street, improvements to the Martin Luther King (“MLK”), Jr. Park Humboldt Basin, Riverside Park, and Delaware Park’s Parkside Lodge and a grant for improvements to the MLK, Jr. Park Basin Stairs.
The Council adopted a resolution seeking support from New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Western New York (“WNY”) State legislators to shift Erie Community College’s (“ECC”) proposal for a Health Sciences Center for Excellence to its City Campus, where it can tap into emerging opportunities created by the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (“BNMC”). Recently, SUNY has forwarded to Governor Cuomo a proposed $15 million budget earmark for a Health Sciences Center for Excellence at ECC’s North Campus. It is the Council’s position that a North Campus location for the proposed Health Sciences Center is a bad idea because it is inconsistent with the smart growth and workforce development objectives of Governor Cuomo’s WNY Regional Economic Development Strategy Plan and it would not compliment the substantial investments SUNY is making at BNMC. The Council maintains that there are many sites in downtown Buffalo and at BNMC where a health sciences facility would be a better fit than at ECC’s isolated North Campus. Shifting ECC’s proposed Health Sciences Center for Excellence to its City Campus would allow such a facility to leverage existing investments, better advance the college’s mission, and boost the region’s health sciences industry.
The Council approved an ordinance amendment to Chapter 316, Sections 50 through 57 of the Code of the City of Buffalo to
regulate mobile food vehicle vendors. A mobile food vehicle (“MFV”) is defined as a commercially manufactured, self-contained, motorized, mobile food unit in which ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed or portioned for service, sale or distribution. The ordinance amendment includes restrictions, license requirements, and a sunset provision that renders the ordinance amendment void after April 1, 2013 unless the Common Council renews, amends or modifies this ordinance amendment. A copy of the Common Council’s approved ordinance amendment is attached in the following PDF format:
Ordinance Amendment- Chapter 316.pdf
The Council approved a resolution sponsored by Lovejoy District Council Member Richard A. Fontana requesting that the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works waive any and all fees associated with the usage of the Machnica Center community meeting room for the Kaisertown Coalition Block Club. Block clubs serve as a way for neighbors to communicate and work collaboratively with one another and their elected representatives to address problems and improve their community. The Kaisertown Coalition Block Club, which serves the residents of the Kaisertown Community in the Lovejoy District, is comprised of volunteer members and is self-reliant for means of fundraising. The Council maintains that waiving the fees for the use of the Machnica Center community meeting room is essential to assisting the Kaisertown Coalition Block Club in its goal of improving the community.
Upon the recommendation of the Department Permit & Inspection Services, the Council approved the following license and permit applications:
• Niagara District
Permit to Convert a Salon to a Sit-in Restaurant and Outdoor Café
• G. Ponmapalam, agent of the property located at 427 Elmwood Avenue
• North District
Permit to Place Pole Sign at Scrap Yard
• P. Strada, agent of the property located at 761 Hertel Avenue
Permit for a Pole Sign
• B. Baumker, agent of the property located at 333 Amherst Street
The Council approved the following contract change orders submitted by the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”):
The contract with Frey Electric Construction Co. for the City Court Basement Detention Center Project was increased by $13,778 for additional electrical work required to complete the project. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $920,000 and with this change the contract will increase to $933,778.
The contract with Milherst Construction, Inc. for the Colvin Estates Subdivision Project was increased by $48,946 to cover costs that were added to the project as a result of the City of Buffalo Planning Board’s approval of a lot reconfiguration for the Colvin Estates Subdivision. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $837,028 and with this change the contract will increase to $885,974.
The contract with Lardon Construction Corp. for the City of Buffalo Yard Waste Removal Contract was increased by $6,000 due to the need for the company to haul away more compost than the previous year. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $70,000 and with this change the contract will increase to $76,000.
The contract with Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc. for the Rehabilitation of Equipment in the Low Lift Pump Station at the Filter Plant was increased by $172,400 for services related to additional construction administration and inspection. The contract was initially awarded in the amount of $400,000 and with this and prior changes the contract will increase to $713,900.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Fire, the Council:
Authorized the Department of Fire to accept and expend New York State Division of Homeland Security Grant funds in the amount of $317,419 for a Mobile Command Vehicle. The funds will enable the department to continue to enhance the Metropolitan Medical Response Plan to respond to any range of mass casualty incidents from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive events as well as epidemic outbreaks, natural disasters, and large-scale hazardous material incidents.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (“BMHA”), the Council:
Authorized a salary increase for the position of General Counsel to include a range with a minimum salary of $93,897 to a maximum of $100,000.
Upon the request of the City of Buffalo Department of Public Works (“DPW”), the Council:
Authorized DPW to accept funds in the amount of $100,000 from the Buffalo Olmsted Conservancy for the Reconstruction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Humboldt Basin Splash Pad. These funds will be used to fund various aspects of the project.
Authorized DPW to accept the donation of three high bay ladder truck doors and one smaller garage door from the Larkin Group for Fire
Engine 32, which is located at Seneca and Swan Streets.
Authorized the Mayor and DPW to enter into agreements with the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”), Federal Transit Administration, New York State Department of Transportation, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, State of New York, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, and the Greater Buffalo-Niagara Regional Transportation Council for the design, inspection and construction of the 500 block of Main Street. FHWA has designated $18.75 million for the project through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (“TIGER”) Discretionary Grants Program.
Authorized DPW to retain Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc. as the architectural and engineering consultant for the Citywide Parks Improvements Project. The project will consist of the construction of basketball, tennis and floor hockey courts and is estimated not to exceed $140,000.
Authorized DPW to execute contracts and preservation covenants for grants awarded to, and to be administered by, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to be implemented in various City of Buffalo parks. A grant in the amount of $500,000 will fund improvements to the Martin Luther King (“MLK”), Jr. Park Humboldt Basin, Riverside Park, and Delaware Park’s Parkside Lodge and a grant in the amount of $50,000 will fund improvements to the MLK, Jr. Park Basin Stairs.
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 Project – Phase 2, the following companies produced the lowest responsible bids for a total of $1,090,281:
• General Construction
• Ledge Creek Development, Inc. – $614,000
• Electrical Construction
• Frey Electric Construction Co., Inc. – $141,000
• Plumbing Construction
• Ackerman Plumbing – $168,281
• HVAC Construction
• Parise Mechanical, Inc. – $167,000
Of the bids that were received for the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion Interior Alterations, Phase 1 Project for HVAC Work, Parise Mechanical, Inc. was the lowest with a bid of $57,700.
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individual to the position of Acting Chief Information Officer within the City of Buffalo Department of Management Information Systems:
Peter Barone
Upon the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, the Council accepted the appointment of the following individual to the Board of Commissioners of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (“BMHA”):
Donna M. Brown
The Council approved the appointment of the following individuals to positions within Common Council Offices and the Office of the City Clerk:
Office of the City Clerk
Assistant Legislative Aide
TuWanner Cleveland
Common Council Staff Office
• Chief of Staff
• Kevin Linder
• Senior Legislative Assistant IV
• Todd McAlister
• Legislative Assistant
• Edward Beck
• Rasheed Wyatt
Masten District Office
• Legislative Assistant
• Nikita Fortune
• Assistant Legislative Aide
• Frank Garland, III
University District Office
• Legislative Assistant
• Mary Lamparelli
The Council approved the appointment of the following individuals to positions within various City of Buffalo Departments at a step above the base salary:
Department of Audit and Control
• Assistant Auditor
• Ronald Wachowski
Department of Community Services
• Youth Counselor
• Lashawn Davis
Department of Police
• Police Lieutenant
• Peter Kocol
• Police Chief
• Kimberly Beaty
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individuals to positions within various City of Buffalo Departments at the base salary:
Department of Public Works
• Truck Driver
• Kevin Aumick
The Council approved the appointment of the following individual to Intern positions within various Common Council Offices:
Ellicott District Office
• Intern VI
• Monica Lewis
Niagara District Office
• Intern IX
• Sean Mulligan
South District Office
• Intern IX
• Matthew Fisher
The Council accepted the appointment of the following individual to the position of Laborer II – Seasonal within the Department of Public Works at the base salary:
Roland Kerr
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
Council President
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
Michael P. Kearns
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
James N. Jackson
Legislative Assistant
City of Buffalo Common Council
1413 City Hall
Buffalo, NY 14202