[Common Council Special Meeting/Work Session on September 29, 2025.]
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GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, TO THIS MEETING OF THE WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL FOR SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2025.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. BRASH HERE.
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR ON OUR DISCUSSION AGENDA THIS EVENING IS A CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED RENOVATIONS OF THE GROVE.
I'M NADIA SAVAGE, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR DPW.
UM, THE RENOVATIONS FOR THE TROVE, OUR BELOVED CHILDREN'S AREA OF THE LIBRARY WAS RENOVATED, UH, 20 YEARS AGO.
AND IT IS IN NEED OF AN UPDATE AND HAS A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR OVER THE 20 YEARS.
THE PROJECT WILL NOT ONLY UPGRADE THE FURNISHING, BUT ALSO CREATE AN AREA FOR THE STEM ACTIVITIES, ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM SPACES, PROVISIONS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.
SO WE'RE GOING FOR THE DESIGN.
A COMMENT, THE FACT THAT IT IS WORN OUT AND BADLY IN NEED OF RENOVATIONS SHOWS ITS SUCCESS.
IF IT IF IT WEREN'T BEING USED, IT WOULD STILL BE IN PRISTINE SHAPE.
BUT IT'S BEING USED, SO I LIKE TO SEE THIS.
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HI. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE MET.ARE YOU A NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER? I'M NEW, I STARTED.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT I FEEL LIKE I WAS A RELATIVELY NEW COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT.
I'M BUILDING A NEW CHILDREN'S LIBRARY AT THE AT THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY.
AND AND SO IT WAS BUILT AND IT WAS AT THE TIME JUST AN AMAZING PLACE.
AND MY KIDS LOVED TO GO THERE.
A LOT OF KIDS, I THINK, DEVELOPED THE LOVE OF READING THERE.
BUT WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY IS THAT AFTER THAT WAS FINISHED, WE DID THE EDGE, WE DID THE ADULT AREA, WE DID THE THE GALLERY.
AND SO WE'RE ROUNDING THE CORNER AND COMING BACK HOME AND WE'RE STARTING AGAIN.
SO THAT SAYS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY AND THE WORK THAT WE DO.
COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN POOJA, THANK YOU.
AS SOMEONE WHO STILL VISITS THE GROVE WITH MY YOUNG KIDS, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THIS ON OUR AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING.
DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW LONG THE PROJECT MAY LAST? THE RENOVATIONS? NO, WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST IN THE STILL IN THE DESIGN PHASE OF IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START THAT AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE OUT FROM THERE HOW LONG THE CONSTRUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE.
UM, AND I THINK YOU'RE STICKING AROUND FOR THIS ONE.
UH, THE SECOND ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED FIRE STATION TWO, ROOF AND WALL REPAIRS.
UH, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT'S FOCUSING ON REPAIRING THE ROOF AND THE NORTH WALL OF THE EXISTING BUILDING TO PREVENT THE WATER INTRUSION AND AVOID THE COSTLY DAMAGE.
THE INITIAL WORK INCLUDED FACADE REPAIR, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROOF DRAINAGE, ROOF DUCT INSULATION, AND INTERIOR REPAIRS.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, OUR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TEAM CONDUCTED MULTIPLE TESTS PROBES ON THE ROOF TO ASSESS ITS COMPOSITION AND EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF PAIR SOLUTIONS.
THE FINDINGS FROM THESE PROBES REVEAL THE NEED TO EXPAND THE SCOPE TO ADDRESS THE UNFORESEEN DAMAGE TO SOME OF THE BUILDING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY NEAR THE NORTH SIDE.
THESE NECESSARY ADDITIONS, COMBINED WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL PAIR PLAN ADDRESSING THE SOURCES OF WATER INTRUSIONS, HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE PROJECT'S CONSTRUCTION COST.
THE RESULT FROM THE BID OF THE NEW SCOPE OF THE WORK INCREASED THE PROJECT COST BY AN ADDITIONAL $4,526,000.
FIRST OF ALL, I AM GLAD THAT WE'RE ATTENDING TO THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME SAYING ANYTHING.
THERE ARE A LOT OF RUMORS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THIS FIREHOUSE AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT.
SO IN ADDITION TO THIS, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES? IS IT BEING.
IS IT IN USE RIGHT NOW? I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT.
I HEARD THERE WAS A RODENT OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE STORY, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE STORY.
WE HAVE DPW HALF STAFF THAT'S USING IT CURRENTLY.
PARKING DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS STAFF USING IT.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN USE THE FACILITY.
ARE THEY USING IT NOW OR NOT? I BELIEVE THEY'RE NOT IN THE FACILITY.
OKAY. UH, WE'VE DONE THE RODENT.
WE'VE. WE'VE SENT IN OUR PEST CONTROL IN THERE.
THEY DID NOT FIND ANY SIGNIFICANT RODENTS IN IT OR ANYTHING OF THAT SORT.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN CLEANED SINCE THEN.
ALSO FROM THE PEST, UH, DEBRIS STUFF.
APPROXIMATELY WHEN WILL THIS BE COMPLETED? THIS, UH, ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL, UH, WHATEVER IT IS.
SO WE HAVE, UH, THE BIDS READY TO GO.
SO AS SOON AS WE CAN AWARD IT, IT'S A, I BELIEVE, A 1 TO 2 YEAR PROJECT.
I JUST DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
SO, FIRST OF ALL, TO ECHO EVERYTHING COUNCILMAN BRASCH SAID, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS GETS FIXED.
AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ON IT AFTER THIS PROJECT IS DONE.
SO 1 OR 2 YEARS FROM NOW, WE'LL FIRE STATION TWO, THEN BE OPERABLE FOR USE BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OR WILL MORE SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS OR ANYTHING ELSE BE NEEDED? THE FIREHOUSE IS ALREADY OPERABLE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE IN THERE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T COME BACK.
WE HAVE STAFF IN THERE FROM DPW AND STAFF FROM THE PARKING DEPARTMENT.
COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN PUJA, THANK YOU.
THE FIRST $6 MILLION IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.
I MEAN, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FIRE STATION, TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP AND THE WAYS THAT THE CITY HAS WORKED TO MAKE RIGHT ON WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE.
AND I THINK ONE THING I WANT TO JUST PUT AS ALSO AS PART OF THE RECORD, IS THESE ARE ONLY CITY EMPLOYEES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE SLEEPING QUARTERS WHERE THEY'RE WORKING.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY BE SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE TO BE USING IT DURING THE DAY AND JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
I WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT WAS NOT IN USE BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY, SO I JUST LEARNED THAT TONIGHT.
BUT THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY SHOULD ALSO BE PARAMOUNT.
AND IF IT'S SLEEPING QUARTERS AND THERE'S A RODENT ISSUE, OR
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THERE'S A WATER ISSUE OR THERE'S A MOLD ISSUE, WE DO NEED TO TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT MONEY WILL BE INVESTED.
BUT SHORT AND LONG TERM, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK AS A CITY WHERE WE MAY NEED ANOTHER FIRE STATION, PERHAPS IN ADDITION TO FIRE STATION TWO OR INSTEAD OF AND I THINK THAT'S COMING SOONER THAN LATER.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL THINKING.
I MEAN, WE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A NEW FIREHOUSE FOR QUITE A WHILE.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO BUILD IT.
SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE USABLE UNTIL WE CAN GET THAT DONE.
AND THE, THE, THE IDEA OF BUILDING A NEW FIREHOUSE WOULD BE OVER IN THAT SAME AREA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHY THEY'RE THERE AND WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, THAT'S THE PART OF THE CITY THEY WANT THAT FIREHOUSE.
AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE UNAWARE, WE THROW THIS THING.
THIS IS THE ONE BY THE BY THE TRAIN STATION.
AND SO THAT'S THAT WAS ORIGINALLY A BUS GARAGE.
SO IT'S NOT UNLIKE THE OTHER FIREHOUSES THAT WERE BUILT TO BE FIREHOUSES.
AND AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT $6 MILLION TO INVEST THERE AND THEN ALSO NEED ANOTHER FACILITY IN THAT AREA FOR A FIRE STATION IS COULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE PUTTING THE MONEY INTO FIX IT FOR NOW TO MAKE IT.
YOU'RE SAYING IT'S OPERABLE, BUT MAKE IT USABLE AS PER STANDARDS FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
AT IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST $6 MILLION AND THEN ALSO NEED TO EVENTUALLY PUT ANOTHER FIRE STATION IN THE SAME AREA.
JOHN WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UM, IT'S BEEN THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STUDY PUT INTO US.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF USES IN THAT BUILDING NOW AND THEN.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE EXISTING STATION, TOO.
AND THERE ARE OTHER USES THAT WE MAY PUT IN THERE IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE WANT TO FIX THE EXISTING BUILDING.
ONE OF THEM IS WHEN THE DAY COMES WHEN WE LOSE, WHEN WE NO LONGER CONTROL THE GALLERY OR GARAGE.
THE POLICE HAVE A LARGE FACILITY IN THERE THAT THEY STORE UNDERCOVER VEHICLES, SEIZE VEHICLES, ETC.
THIS BUILDING MAY BE THE IDEAL PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE HAD, AS THE MAYOR KNOWS, BECAUSE YOU AUTHORIZE IT A COUPLE OF YEARS PRELIMINARY PLANS, UM, UM, DONE FOR AN ARCHITECT BY AN ARCHITECT TO SEE IF WE COULD MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ELSEWHERE.
AND TENTATIVELY WE CAN AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO FURTHERING THOSE.
BUT I THINK THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE INTERNALLY.
WE WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF USES FOR THE OLD FIREHOUSE, TOO.
EVEN IF WE DON'T KEEP USING IT AS A FIRE STATION BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER CITY NEEDS, WHICH OVER THE YEARS WE CAN CONSOLIDATE IN THERE.
UM, DPW NEEDS A WASHING STATION FOR ITS TRUCKS.
UM, AND SINCE ALL THESE POLICE VEHICLES, IN ADDITION TO THE SIGN SHOP AND DPW OFFICES, WHICH ARE ALREADY IN THAT BUILDING.
AND AS YOU POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, THE THE FIREHOUSE, THE FIREHOUSE IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.
SO WE BUILD A NEW BUILDING THAT'S PURPOSE BUILT FOR FOR THAT USE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER.
AND I THINK THEY'RE VERY ENCOURAGING OF THAT.
WE WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP RECENTLY ON THE PROPOSED NEW BUILDING.
SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ALONG ON A PARALLEL TRACK AS WE'RE FIXING THE EXISTING BUILDING.
KNOWING IT CAN BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE? YES. THEN AT LEAST I CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHY WE WOULD INVEST A 6 MILLION.
WELL, THE THE ALTERNATIVE IS YOU HAVE NO FIRE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A FIREHOUSE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN GOOD CONDITION.
THAT'S COUNCILMAN MARTIN IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, BUT IF THE FIRE STATION IS GOING TO BE OUT OF SERVICE FOR THAT LONG PERIOD, AND PRIMARILY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LIVING QUARTERS, ARE THERE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE WITH SOME, UH, EITHER TEMPORARY QUARTERS OR, UH, PORTABLE QUARTERS THAT COULD BE BROUGHT IN THERE TO GET THEM BACK INTO STATION TWO WITH THE EQUIPMENT? OTHER OPTIONS THERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE MAY BE, FRANKLY, SOME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, UM, THOSE WHO OCCUPY THE HOUSE AS TO WHETHER IT'S OCCUPY.
AND WE'VE STARTED TO LOOK AT THOSE TRAILERS WHERE YOU COULD HOUSE THE MEN AND WHERE YOU COULD PUT THE EQUIPMENT.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE TWO.
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, GATHER THIS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
[00:15:02]
THE DEMANDS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE BEING MET WITH IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS BUILDING AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT.DOING WHAT WE CAN TO EITHER RETROFIT IT TEMPORARILY FOR PURPOSES OF OF A FIREHOUSE OR BUILDING A NEW ONE.
IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT ALL THE COMMUNITIES IN WHITE PLAINS HAVE ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
HOW IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, PREPARED TO SERVE THE CITY? AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION, I THINK THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ALLAYING SOME FEARS AND CONCERNS.
OKAY. ITEM THREE IS A CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED ROLLING STOCK ACQUISITION HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, FISCAL YEAR 2026.
THIS AMENDMENT PERTAINS TO THE CITY'S ROLLING STOCK.
RECENTLY, ONE OF OUR STREET SWEEPERS WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DUE TO A FIRE, RENDERING IT BEYOND REPAIR TO ENSURE CONTINUING SWEEPING OPERATIONS DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS THE CITY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AMENDING THE CAPITAL PROJECT TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT SWEEPER AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $350,000.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY? ANY STREET SWEEPER RELATED ISSUES? ANYBODY? COUNCILMAN PAYNE.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO COME UP WITH ONE.
IS THIS ONE OF THE LITTLE CUTE MINI SWEEPERS OR THE BIG SWEEPER? IF YOU KNOW.
IT'S THE BRAVO, I GUESS YOU CALL IT THE.
IT'S THE SMALLER ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE, BUT IT'S NOT.
MINI ONES THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT ONE? ALL RIGHT.
ITEM FOUR IS A CAPITAL PROJECT ENTITLED TYLER TECHNOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES UPGRADE.
THIS PROJECT INCLUDES THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT'S MITIGATION TO THE CLOUD FOR ITS VARIOUS SYSTEMS, VARIOUS UPGRADES TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND REPORTING, A NEW INVENTORY SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO TRACK EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES IN THE CENTRAL GARAGE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT.
UH, NEXT ITEM IS, UH, I'LL HEAR A MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TWO.
OH, DAMON, I FORGOT ABOUT DAMON.
I'M NOT ONE OF YOUR NEWEST COMMISSIONERS.
I THINK I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE OLDEST.
YOU'RE ONE OF OUR MOST SEASONED COMMISSIONERS.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
ITEM FIVE IS A PROPOSED UPDATE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL UNIFORM BUILDING AND FIRE PREVENTION CODE OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, UM, WE'VE BEEN GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR CODE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FROM OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES, WORKING WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT, WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS, UM, AND JUST OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES, SEAS.
WE KEPT A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN WE'RE READY, WE WANT TO INCORPORATE THIS INTO THE CODE.
AND MOST OF IT IS HOUSEKEEPING.
IT'S CREATING DEFINITIONS, CORRECTING DEFINITIONS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE BOTH FROM A DESIGN SIDE, DESIGN SIDE AND CONSTRUCTION SIDE.
WE ALSO INCORPORATED A LIST OF WHEN YOU DON'T NEED A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A ONE AND TWO FAMILY HOME, WHICH IS ALWAYS A QUESTION THAT COMES UP WHEN WE GO TO, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.
PEOPLE ASK, WELL, DO I NEED A PERMIT FOR THIS, DO I? SO WE'VE SORT OF CREATED THIS LIST OF, HEY, YOU DON'T NEED A PERMIT IN A ONE AND TWO FAMILY HOME FOR THESE ITEMS. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS WHEN THEY'RE NAVIGATING THE CODE.
UM, JUST A BRIEF HISTORY ON THE CODE.
UP UNTIL 1984, THERE WAS NO STATE CODE, NO UNIFORM CODE THAT APPLIED TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES.
IN 1917, WHITE PLAINS ESTABLISHED THE WHITE PLAINS BUILDING CODE.
IT'S SMALLER THAN OUR CURRENT VERSION.
WE USE BIGGER WORDS SO THE PAGES ARE BIGGER.
AND THIS CODE WAS AMENDED AND UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS UNTIL,
[00:20:01]
UM, 1984, WHEN THE STATE CAME OUT WITH A STATE CODE THAT APPLIES TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES.THAT'S WHEN OUR CODE BECAME A SUPPLEMENTAL CODE.
SO OUR CODE IS ESSENTIALLY AN OVERLAY ON TOP OF THE STATE CODE.
UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN PROVISIONS THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE TO WHITE PLAINS, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT, UM, WE HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD THAN MOST OF THE STATE.
UM, THOSE PROVISIONS STILL APPLY.
UM, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, WE PRETTY MUCH WE JUST FOLLOW THE STATE CODE.
UM, A LOT OF WHAT WHAT'S IN THE CODE THAT YOU SEE TODAY? MOST OF IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE HOW WE ENFORCE THE CODE, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? PERMITTING. SEE OF THOSE.
UM, WE DID INCORPORATE TWO THINGS THAT ARE NEW.
ONE IS THE PARKING GARAGE INSPECTION CODE, WHICH WAS MANDATED ON THE STATE LEVEL, AND ALL MUNICIPALITIES HAD TO ADOPT IT.
WE ARE ADOPTING IT AS PART OF THIS CODE.
AND THAT RELATES TO AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED UPSTATE.
A PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSED, AND I THINK IT WAS THE COMPTROLLER AT THE TIME, UM, SORT OF CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF AN INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GARAGES, WHERE AN ENGINEER HAS TO INSPECT IT AND SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION TO THE MUNICIPALITY.
WE'VE INCORPORATED OUR BIRD FRIENDLY CODE, WHICH I HAVE TO SAY WAS MR. CALLAHAN'S BRAINCHILD. SO NEW BUILDINGS UP TO 75FT WILL HAVE TO INCORPORATE BIRD FRIENDLY DESIGN ELEMENTS, UM, IN TERMS OF FENESTRATION, UM, AND VARIOUS ARCHITECTURAL TECHNIQUES THAT NEED TO BE USED TO HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BIRD IMPACTS ON OUR BUILDINGS.
UM, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY IT.
IT'S REALLY JUST A WHOLESALE UPDATE.
UM, I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF POST-IT NOTES ON MY COMPUTER THAT I CAN NOW TAKE DOWN BECAUSE WE PICKED UP THE COMMENTS.
UM, MIKE KELLY FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT HAS HELPED US A LOT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE ENFORCEMENT SECTIONS.
WE'VE RESTRUCTURED THAT, SO HOPEFULLY OUR ENFORCEMENT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT, UM, AND COMPREHENSIVE, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, THIS IS ALL GREAT TO HEAR.
UM, THAT LITTLE BOOKLET YOU WERE HOLDING IS THAT FROM 1917? YOU KNOW, IT AMAZES ME THIS IS 108 YEARS OLD.
AND THE PAPER IS STILL IN, IN MY OPINION, EXCELLENT CONDITION.
AND IF ANYBODY WE HAVE OUR LIBRARY IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WITH ALL OUR CODES FROM WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE CITY BECAME A CITY.
AND I PULLED THIS OUT TODAY, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL.
THIS IS PROBABLY A REAL COLLECTIBLE.
CAN YOU DO THAT? UM, EXCEPT IT'S NOT YOUR PROPERTY.
GREAT BIG MARKET FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT WAS UPDATED AND ENHANCED.
UH, FOR MANY YEARS, UH, WHITE PLAINS AS A AS A CITY, UM, WAS AHEAD OF THEIR TIME BACK THEN, UH, IN TERMS OF BUILDING CODE ISSUES AND FIRE CODE ISSUES.
UM, BUT NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT THAT'S A SUPPLEMENTAL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NEWER VERSION OF THE CODE THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE BOOKS.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BIRD FRIENDLY REQUIREMENTS.
WE'VE ALL GOTTEN EMAILS, AND I'M SURE YOU'VE RECEIVED A FEW OF THEM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE HIGH RISES.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UH, WHAT? THE BUILDING'S LEAVING THEIR LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT.
I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN EMAILS, UM, UM, REGARDING BIRDS AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIGRATORY PERIODS, THESE HIGH RISES, WHEN THEY LEAVE THEIR LIGHTS ON THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS, UM, THE BIRD FRIENDLY LANGUAGE SPEAKS TO THAT, OR IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT.
I LOOKED AT NEW YORK CITY'S BIRD CODE, BIRD FRIENDLY CODE, AND I TOOK MOST OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE FROM THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CONSOLIDATED IT, BUT I, I'D HAVE TO TALK TO A SPECIALIST IN THE FIELD TO GET AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CURIOSITY.
I TOO AM INTERESTED AND WOULD LOVE TO KNOW.
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EXAMPLES OF WHAT POSES A DANGER TO BIRDS, UH, IN CONSTRUCTION AND AND AND THE THE FACADE. AND WHAT PREVENTS THE BIRD STRIKES? YEAH. IT WOULD JUST BE AN INTERESTING THING.YEAH. AND IN NEW YORK CITY THEY IN THEIR CODE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GRAPHICS THAT I DIDN'T INCLUDE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE REFERRING TO THERE WERE STANDARDS OUT THERE RELATING TO BUILDING DESIGN FOR, YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE.
SO WE'RE WE'RE REFERRING TO THOSE STANDARDS.
BUT WE COULD GET YOU DOCUMENTATION AND THE GUIDES.
YEAH. IF THERE'S A LINK TO THEIR MATERIAL.
I THOUGHT THAT THE LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT DO AND DO NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE WAS A NICE ADDITION TO THIS, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IS, WHAT IS THE INTENDED TIMELINE ON ADOPTION OF THIS BY US, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS FOR IT? IS THERE A PERIOD OF PUBLIC INPUT OR HOW DOES THAT ROLL OUT? IT DOES NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARING.
WHAT IT DOES REQUIRE, ONCE THIS BODY, UM, ADOPTS THE CHANGE.
UM, I HAVE TO SUBMIT IT TO THE STATE.
THE STATE HAS TO LOOK AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT CREATING ANY NEW, MORE RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS.
OUR MORE RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS WERE APPROVED BY THE STATE BACK IN 1989, WHEN IT BECAME A SUPPLEMENTAL CODE, AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE STANDARDS.
I CAN'T MAKE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE, AND I DID SEND A COPY OF THIS TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE CODES DIVISION ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO TO GET SOME, YOU KNOW, UNOFFICIAL FEEDBACK.
I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM, BUT I JUST MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, I DON'T EXPECT THE STATE TO HAVE AN OBJECTION TO WHAT OUR OUR PROPOSED CHANGES.
SO I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIMELINE ON THE SUBMISSION AND WHEN THEY OFFICIALLY GET BACK TO US.
WHAT ABOUT OUR ADOPTION? IS THIS INTENDED TO BE ON OUR AGENDA NEXT MONTH? YES IT IS.
OKAY. HAS THERE BEEN OUTREACH TO THE, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT YOU DEAL WITH FOR INPUT ON THIS? UM, IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE PUT OUT THERE ON THURSDAY AND HAVE THREE DAYS FOR ANYONE TO NOTICE IT AND READ? YEAH, WE WE HAVE NOT.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE NONE OF WHAT WE'VE CHANGED MATERIAL AFFECTS WHAT DESIGNERS OR BUILDERS ARE DOING.
THE PROVISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MORE RESTRICTIVE STANDARDS HAVE NOT CHANGED.
UM, MOST OF THE CONTENT CHANGES WERE JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, CORRECTING THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO CORRECT, MAKE IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE.
EIGHT. UM, SO THERE'S REALLY NO, UM, PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTERS THAT A DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY OR ARCHITECTURAL COMMUNITY WOULD, WOULD WANT TO HAVE INPUT ON.
OKAY. THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION WOULD BE IS, SO THIS IS INTENDED TO BE THE ENTIRETY OF THE NEW CODE? THAT'S CORRECT.
IS THERE A RED LINE VERSION AGAINST OUR EXISTING.
AND I AND THERE WAS A SPECIFIC REASON, THE DEPUTY COMMISSION AT THE TIME THAT WORKED ON THIS CODE BACK IN 19 OR IN, I GUESS IT WAS 2004, 2005.
WE DID A REWRITE BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THE STATE HAD ITS OWN BUILDING CODE STATE IN NEW YORK BUILDING CODE.
THE STATE DECIDED TO USE A MODEL CODE AS A BASIS FOR THE STATE CODE, AND THAT MODEL CODE IS CODE DEVELOPED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL.
MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY NOW USE THE ICC CODE AS THE MODEL, AS THE BASE FOR THEIR SPECIFIC STATE CODES.
WHEN THE STATE DID THAT, ALL THE NUMBERING CHANGED FROM THE OLD STATE CODE, SO WE HAD TO RENUMBER IT BACK.
THEN THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AT THE TIME DID HIS BEST IN TRYING TO RENUMBER, BUT HE DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB.
AND THAT PERSON STANDING BEFORE YOU NOW AS COMMISSIONER.
SO LONG STORY SHORT, I, WE HAD TO RENUMBER THIS.
SO IT MADE MORE SENSE IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT AND CODE REFERENCES.
SO DOING A STRIKETHROUGH AND AND ADDITION YOU IT WOULD BE UNREADABLE QUITE FRANKLY.
[00:30:01]
AND THAT'S WHY WE DID A WHOLESALE UPDATE.I MEAN THERE WAS ALSO ORIGINALLY OUR SUPPLEMENTAL CODE WAS MUCH COVERED, MORE TERRITORY.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT OVER TO THE MODEL CODE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN CONTRACTORS WERE COMPLAINING THAT THEY WERE A PLUMBER.
THE PLUMBING INSPECTOR WOULD COME IN AND SAY, YOU CAN'T DO IT LIKE THAT.
WELL, THE STATE SAYS, I CAN DO IT LIKE THAT.
WHERE DOES IT SIT? RIGHT? THIS MAY NEVER HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, BUT THIS IS THE ANECDOTES I WOULD GET.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I SAY SO.
WHEN I CAME HERE AND THIS STOCK, THIS LITTLE BOOKLET GOT MUCH LARGER OVER THE YEARS.
SO WHEN I CAME HERE AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, THE SUPPLEMENTAL CODE WAS A BINDER ABOUT THAT THICK, A BIG BROWN BINDER.
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PROVISIONS IN WHITE PLAINS THAT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE AND NOT TO BORE YOU, BUT WE THAT WE WOULD HAVE REQUIREMENTS IN WHITE PLAINS THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THE STATE AND PRETTY MUCH IN THE COUNTRY WOULD REQUIRE.
I CAME OUT OF THE ENGINEERING WORLD IN MANHATTAN AND THAT THE PIPING SYSTEM THAT WAS USED IN MANHATTAN AND ALL THE BOROUGHS IN MOST OF THE STATE.
IN WHITE PLAINS, YOU COULDN'T USE IT, BECAUSE AT THE TIME WHITE PLAINS SAID, NO, WE WANT TO BE WE WANT TO BE BETTER.
SO THERE WERE PROVISIONS OF THAT CODE AT THAT TIME THAT WE CALLED OUT THE FORMER COMMISSIONER, MYSELF, AND WE STREAMLINED IT.
SO WE TOOK THAT BROWN BOOK AND WE BROUGHT IT DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, ONE TENTH OF ITS SIZE.
SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ITERATION OF THAT UPDATE IN 2005 TO CULL THROUGH IT, TO MAKE IT READ BETTER, TO MAKE IT SIMPLER, TO MAKE IT, UM, EASIER TO, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATE BOTH FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY AND FOR MY DEPARTMENT AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT AND, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, GENERAL PRACTICES.
PRESIDENT. JUST THIS IS RANDOM, BUT I'M REMEMBERING FROM WHEN I MOVED INTO WHITE PLAINS IN THE 80S THAT THE PLUMBER IS SAYING TO ME, EVERYBODY ELSE CAN USE PLASTIC, WE HAVE TO USE METAL.
IS THAT ONE OF THEM? WELL, THAT WAS THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP, UM, THE USE OF PLASTIC PIPE MATERIALS FOR PLUMBING.
UM, AND AT THE TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS MAYOR.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
AS PART OF THE REWRITE IN 2005, THE COUNCIL AGREED TO ALLOW PLASTIC PIPE UP TO A CERTAIN HEIGHT.
SO UP TO 75FT, YOU COULD USE PLASTIC PIPING FOR PLUMBING MATERIALS, BUT HIGH RISES ABOVE 75FT.
YOU YOU STILL HAVE TO USE METALLIC.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY.
MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY IS, IS THE THE MODEL CODE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT DOES MAKE LIFE A LOT EASIER FOR CONTRACTORS AND DESIGNERS THAT FROM OUT OF STATE, THEY COME HERE.
IF THEY'RE USING THE SAME BASE CODE, IT'S EASIER TO NAVIGATE.
SO YES, MOST OF THIS MOST OF THIS IS ADMINISTRATIVE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF LIFE SAFETY, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE STRINGENT THAN THE STATE CODE.
THE INTERESTING THING I LEARNED NOT ACTUALLY FROM THIS PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT FROM LOOKING AT THIS BEFORE ON THE ON THE BIRD STRIKES, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE HIGH BUILDINGS ARE CAUSING THE BIRD STRIKES, BUT THE BIRD STRIKES TAKE PLACE ON THE FIRST SIX STORIES, FOR THE MOST PART, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE ZOOMING AROUND.
LIKE THEY DON'T REALLY FLY AROUND UP THERE, UM, IN THEIR NORMAL FORAGING AND THINGS.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE LOWER LEVELS TAKEN CARE OF.
AND SOME I THINK IN HERE, IF YOU READ THROUGH IT, THERE'S EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID.
LIKE IF A BIRD LOOKS THROUGH ONE WINDOW AND CAN SEE THROUGH THE OTHER WINDOW, IT MAKES IT THINK IT CAN GO THROUGH, FLY THROUGH.
AND SO THERE'S AND THERE'S THINGS YOU CAN DO ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE GLASS THAT MAKE THE BIRD RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S NOT THAT THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY WAY.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN THE APARTMENT, YOU CAN LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND IT LOOKS FINE.
NOW I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENTER INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A PENDING LITIGATION BROUGHT BY SAVE THE SOUND IN ATLANTIC CLAM FARMS OF CONNECTICUT, INCORPORATED, AND BE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS.
[00:53:51]
WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.[00:53:54]
REMOVE THE CONE OF SILENCE.[00:53:59]
OKAY.[00:54:08]
OKAY. THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS LOCAL LAW.INTRODUCTORY NUMBER FOUR OF 2025.
HOW DID WE GET THAT NUMBER? THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET.
WHY DID WE GET IT, THOUGH? THAT'S JUST ON FOR INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSION.
THIS IS UH, PARTICULARLY IN CONNECTION WITH BROOKFIELD STREET, WHICH IS AT AN ANGLE NOW.
IT'S UNDER SOME CONTEMPLATION, AS YOU KNOW, TO THE HOSPITAL IS GOING TO BUILD A GARAGE OVER THERE.
UM, BROOKFIELD STREET WILL HAVE TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT.
SO THE EXISTING BROOKFIELD STREET WOULD BE DISCONTINUED.
AND, UM, WE NEED THE LOCAL LAW TO DISCONTINUE IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IF IT IS DISCONTINUED, ONE OF TWO THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
THE, UM, WHAT I'LL CALL THE NEW BROOKFIELD, WHICH WILL, UM, GO
[00:55:06]
ON THROUGH THE GARAGE ENTRANCE, WILL EITHER BE A PUBLIC STREET IF WE WANT TO KEEP IT AS A PUBLIC STREET, OR IT WILL BE BASICALLY A PRIVATE ROAD CONTROLLED BY THE HOSPITAL.BUT THE PROVISION IS IN THE LOCAL LAW THAT THE HOSPITAL WILL.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GOING TO BE THE COUNCIL'S DECISION, WHETHER IT BE A PUBLIC STREET OR A PRIVATE ROAD, AND THEN THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE ABILITY, IF IT'S A PRIVATE STREET, TO REQUIRE THE HOSPITAL TO GRANT A AN ACCESS EASEMENT.
SO THE COUNCIL CHOOSES THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BROOKFIELD COMMONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE OUT OVER THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE MODIFICATIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? WHEN ARE WE.
HEARING ON THAT? A WEEK FROM MONDAY.
AND YOU CAN ADOPT IT THAT NIGHT.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.