[Common Council Special Meeting/Work Session on May 26, 2026.]
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GOOD EVENING. I CALL THIS MAY 26TH, 2026, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS TO ORDER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARUSO, CAN YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? SIR? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. CARUSO PRESENT. MR. FREI PEARSON.
MISS PRESSER HERE. MRS. SANTIAGO. PRESIDENT. MISS.
MR. MAYOR, I HAVE RECEIVED A SIGN WAIVER FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SIMMONS AUTHORIZING ACTIONS FOR ORDINANCES ON FOR READING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER PRESSER. DO WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA? YES WE DO. I OFFER THE CONSENT AGENDA OF ITEMS ONE THROUGH 15 AND REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE ORDINANCES FOR ON FOR A FIRST READING. I FURTHER MOVE TO ADOPT THOSE ORDINANCES, FILE AND SPREAD ALL COMMUNICATIONS,
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FIRE AND FILE ANY ATTACHMENTS.MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. CARUSO? YES, MR. FRY PEARSON. YES, MISS PRESSER.
MRS. SANTIAGO. YES. MR.. WOLFE.
YES. TONIGHT''S CONSENT AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS. ITEM ONE IS A COMMUNICATION IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSED TAX BUDGET OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 2027. ITEMS TWO THROUGH SEVEN ADOPTS THE TAX BUDGET OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY FUND, THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND, THE WATER FUND, THE SEWER RENT FUND, AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON THE FIRST DAY OF JULY 2026 AND TERMINATING AT MIDNIGHT ON THE 30TH DAY OF JUNE 2027. ITEM EIGHT AMENDS TITLE TWO. CHAPTER TWO. DASH FIVE. SECTION TWO.
FIVE, SEVEN, SIX AND TWO. DASH 577 OF THE WHITE PLAINS MUNICIPAL CODE AND THE TABLE OF ORGANIZATION. ITEM NINE ALLOCATES FUNDING TO THE WHITE PLAINS CABLE ACCESS COMMISSION, INC. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027.
ITEM TEN THROUGH 11 AMENDS TITLE TWO, CHAPTERS TWO THROUGH FIVE. SECTION TWO, FIVE, SEVEN, SEVEN. APPENDIX TWO B OF THE WHITE PLAINS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING AND DELETING CERTAIN POSITION TITLES. ITEM 1213 FIXES THE 2026 2027 SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE WHITE PLAINS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. LEVYING AND CONFIRMING SAID SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND ORDERING THE ISSUANCE OF A WARRANT THEREOF.
ITEMS 14 THROUGH 15 AMENDS PARAGRAPH F OF APPENDIX A, SECTION 7-81. 21 OF THE WHITE PLAINS MUNICIPAL CODE. WATER RULES AND REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS PERTAINING TO REVISING CERTAIN WATER RATES.
ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE PASSED THE BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WILL HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL WITH THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL. UM, I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT, AS USUAL, OUR OUR BUDGET IS BALANCED AND AS USUAL, WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR EXTREMELY HIGH AA ONE RATING FROM MOODY''S. WE ALWAYS BUDGET IN A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER. THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE IS 2.9%, AND THIS WILL BE THE FOR THE FOR A HOMEOWNER OF A MEDIAN VALUED HOME IN THE CITY. THIS TRANSLATES INTO AN ANNUAL INCREASE IN CITY TAXES OF $99. THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND PROPOSED IS $230,000,230.3 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 10.8 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT YEAR, OR 4.9%. THE PRIMARY FACTORS DRIVING THIS INCREASE ARE APPROVED UNION SALARY INCREASES, ACTIVE AND RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASES IN NEW YORK STATE PENSION INCREASES. THIS IS THE USUAL SITUATION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY AND ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE OUR TAXES GO UP ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BECAUSE OF THE INCREASES WE HAVE IN STATE MANDATED, MANDATED HEALTH CARE AND PENSION COSTS. SO THAT''S SOMETHING THAT JUST EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW. IT IS NOT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS. WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE ARE MANDATED OR TOLD BY THE STATE TO DO THIS. THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY IS 70.7 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1.65% AS COMPARED TO THE CURRENT YEAR.
THIS IS AND WE''RE VERY PROUD OF THIS. THE 15TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE CITY HAS PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT HAS STAYED WITHIN THE ALLOWABLE NEW YORK STATE PROPERTY TAX CUT. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE THE TAX CAP. WE ARE ALWAYS UNDER THE TAX CAP. ANOTHER THING THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF IN OUR CITY. SOMETHING THAT MAKES OUR BUDGETING BETTER THAN MANY OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS THAT WE DO NOT BORROW TO PAY FOR PENSION COSTS OR TAX OR IRAS, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE''RE IN SUCH A STRONG FINANCIAL SITUATION. WE WILL, OF COURSE, AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND.
WE WILL BE MAINTAINING ALL SERVICES AT HIGH LEVELS COMPARABLE TO THE CURRENT AND PREVIOUS YEARS, AND ALL MANDATED EXPENSES ARE FUNDED.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE''RE NOT CUTTING ANY SERVICES. WE NEVER DO. WE ARE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE RUN A TIGHT SHIP IN THE CITY, AND WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR AND OUR FINANCE COMMISSIONER, WHO ARE BOTH WITH US TODAY. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO INGRID FOR WORKING WITH US. AND OF COURSE, BETH CLEARY AND KAREN PASQUALE. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS PEOPLE WORKING THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, AND I THINK THAT WE ALL NEEDED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THEM. I WILL NOW PASS THE BATON TO MY COLLEAGUES SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE YOU THEIR DETAILED
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COMMENTS. SO WE WILL START WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICKI PRESSER.THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS THE SEVENTH CITY OF WHITE PLAINS BUDGET. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF APPROVING. I CALL IT A PRIVILEGE BECAUSE THE BUDGET ILLUSTRATES THE CARE AND THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THE PLANNING AND SUPPORT OF CITY SERVICES. THIS BUDGET COMBINES PRUDENT CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF EXPENSES AND REVENUE WITH A COMMITMENT TO ASSURING THAT CITY SERVICES REMAIN STRONG. I WANT TO SALUTE THE TEAM THAT MANAGES THE PROCESS OF BUDGET BUILDING, BUDGET DIRECTOR JAMES ARNETT AND HIS STAFF SERGEANT SERGIO SENSEI, FINANCE OFFICER AND THE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I WANT TO GO BEYOND THE HEADLINERS, SO TO SPEAK. FOR A MOMENT, THE ADDITION OF POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER POSITIONS, THE HEROIC BATTLE DPW WAGED AGAINST THE WORST WINTER IN DECADES.
OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON QUIET, INNOVATIVE THINKING SUCH AS THE INSTALLATION OF EYE HYDRANTS, HYDRANTS WITH SMART SENSORS THAT TRANSMIT WATER PRESSURE DATA ELECTRONICALLY, ELECTRONICALLY ALLOWING THE CITY TO QUICKLY DETECT LEAKS AND WATER MAIN BREAKS. THAT''S LOOKING OUT FOR US. I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER SANTIAGO.
COUNCIL MEMBER PRESSER WELL, YOU THIS IS YOUR SEVENTH. THIS IS MY FIRST. I''M ONE OF THE NEWBIES. UM, AND ALTHOUGH I AM NEW TO THIS PROCESS AND STILL LEARNING, I DO MY RESEARCH AND DUE DILIGENCE BY TALKING AND SEEKING THE ADVICE OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE THAN MYSELF. UM, AND FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE HAVE A STRONG BUDGET THAT I''M PROUD TO PASS. IT''S EVIDENCED BY, AS MAYOR BRASCH STATED, OUR DOUBLE A1 MUNICIPAL CREDIT RATING, UM, AND COMPARED TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY PASSING THEIR MUNICIPAL BUDGETS AND EVEN THEIR SCHOOL BUDGETS, WHICH WE EASILY SHOUT OUT TO THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE EASILY PASS THAT, UM, OVER WITH A MARGIN OF OVER 91%. UM, THE WHITE PLAINS MUNICIPALITY HAS MANAGED ITS MONEY WELL AND ONLY TAPS INTO ITS RESERVES IF IT''S IF THERE''S A CRITICAL NEED THAT ARISES, UH, IT PUTS US IN A POSITION TO ENABLE US TO HELP EVERYONE. AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE WHITE PLAINS RECREATION AND PARKS ADVISORY BOARD, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE LIKE THE YOUTH BUREAU. WE DON''T TURN ANY FAMILY AWAY. WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO MANY PEOPLE AND MANY FAMILIES AND MANY CHILDREN AND A STRONG FINANCIAL FOUNDATION ENABLES US TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO I''M VERY PROUD OF THIS BUDGET. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FRED PEARSON.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES. I''M VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET.
AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, WE LIVE IN WEIRD TIMES WHERE INFLATION IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM AND THERE''S ALL SORTS OF CHAOTIC STRESSORS. IT''S AN INCREDIBLE TESTAMENT TO MAYOR BRASCH. MY COLLEAGUES, BUDGET DIRECTOR ARNETT, AND EVERYONE IN CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THESE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, NOT WITHDRAW ANY SERVICES, AND IN FACT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY HIRES, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT. UM, THAT''S REALLY GOOD WORK BY OUR CITY GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULDN''T BE LOST. AND JUST ONE THING I WANTED TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON IS THE YOUTH BUREAU. UM, IN THESE TIMES WHERE TIMES ARE HARD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, AFFORDABILITY IS A REAL CRISIS.
THE GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO AFFORDABLY PASS OUR BUDGET, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE''RE NOT CUTTING ANY OF THE NECESSARY SERVICE TO OUR KIDS. AND AS COUNCILMEMBER SANTIAGO EXPLAINED, WITH ALSO THE THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WE''RE PROVIDING SERVICES TO ALL WHO NEED IT. I THINK A BUDGET IS AT BOTTOM, IT''S A REFLECTION OF A COMMUNITY''S MORAL VALUES AND THE MORAL VALUES IN THIS BUDGET MAKE ME VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER NICK WOLF. THANK YOU. MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I WANT TO THANK BETH, OUR LEGISLATIVE AIDE. I GAVE HER SEVEN QUESTIONS AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT, UM, BUDGET, WHICH I GOT DELIVERED AND ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK WHEN I SAW IT. UM, BUT I WENT THROUGH IT AND I HAD SEVEN QUESTIONS. AND DEPUTY ARNETT ANSWERED MOST OF THOSE QUESTIONS FOR BETH AND TWO OTHERS THAT I HAD WERE ANSWERED BY THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONERS, WHICH SHOWS HOW RESPONSIVE THEY ARE AND QUICKLY. AND I''M PROUD TO LIVE IN THIS CITY ALL MY
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LIFE, AND THE TAXES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT SELLING POINT FOR THE CITY, AS WELL AS JUST A VERY GOOD WAY TO RUN THE CITY, AND I THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.THANK YOU. OH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOM CARUSO.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT LIKE, UH, MR. WOLF, I''M SOMETIMES VERY MUCH A GLASS HALF EMPTY KIND OF GUY.
SO I ALSO WENT THROUGH THIS BOOK AND LIKE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN LISA SANTIAGO. UM, THIS IS MY FIRST BUDGET, AND I''M THE NEWEST OF THE NEWBIES HERE. UM, HAVING GONE THROUGH IT ALL, I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. AND SOME DEPRESSING QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS. BUT THANKS TO THE MAYOR, PUT ME ON THE BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT ADVICE TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND DISCUSS THIS FULLY. WHO ANSWERED ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, ALLAYED MY FEARS, AND MADE ME SEE HOW GOOD THIS BUDGET IS AND HOW WELL THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING AND HOW WELL FISCALLY, IT''S BEEN RUN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK I ECHO ALL THE SENTIMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE. I WANT TO THANK BUDGET DIRECTOR BARNETT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BMC, ESPECIALLY FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY PROBABLY SOMEWHAT ANNOYING, UH, NEWBIE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. AND I CAN''T STRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH I HOW GREAT I THINK THE SERVICES ARE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN WHITE PLAINS. UH, I THE ADVANTAGE OF NOT TOO LONG AGO LIVING IN A SEPARATE PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THE SERVICES, FRANKLY, WERE NOT GOOD. AND I THINK I DIDN''T APPRECIATE HOW GREAT THE SERVICES ARE HERE IN WHITE PLAINS UNTIL I HAD THAT EXPERIENCE. UM, AND SO I THANK EVERYBODY WHO WORKED ON THIS BUDGET. I THANK MY MORE EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR YEARS OF WORKING ON BUDGETS THAT LEFT US IN THIS GOOD PLACE. AND I HOPE THAT SOMEDAY, SOME FUTURE COUNCIL MEMBER WILL SIT HERE AND SAY SOMETHING NICE LIKE THAT ABOUT ME. SO THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU. SO NOW I''LL BACK CLEAN UP WITH A FEW EXTRA LAST MINUTE THINGS. UH, FIRST, I DIDN''T PROPERLY THANK, UH, BY NAME, ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE. SO I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE.
THANK SERGIO SENSEI, OUR OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND JIM ARNETT, OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.
AND I WANT TO THANK INGRID RICHARDS FOR HER HELP. AND I WANT TO THANK BETH CLEARY FOR HER HELP. AND, UH, WE''RE VERY GRATEFUL, OF COURSE, TO KAREN PASQUALE FOR ALL SHE DOES FOR ALL OF US. THERE''S ONE OTHER THANK YOU. WHICH YOU DIDN''T MENTION BY NAME, WHICH IS THE VOLUNTEER CHAIR OF OUR BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS MIKE STANTON. AND WE ALL OWE HIM A TREMENDOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS TIME AND ENERGY, NOT ONLY ON BUDGETING, BUT FOR ALL THAT HE DOES FOR OUR CITY.
THERE ARE TWO QUICK THINGS I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT OUR BUDGET, WHICH YOU DIDN''T MENTION BEFORE, IS THAT IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT, WE WILL BE, AS USUAL, HIRING THREE NEW FIREFIGHTERS AND TWO NEW THREE NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND TWO FIREFIGHTERS. AND WE''RE GLAD OUR CITY IS GROWING. AND EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL, WHICH THIS IS MY NINTH BUDGET, WE HAVE INCREASED THESE ALL IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT FOR ALL OF US TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE. AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS, SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY IN OUR CITY. AND I''M GRATEFUL TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT ALL THE TIME ON THAT AND FOR THE BUDGET. THERE''S ONE OTHER THING. WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL AT HOME, AND THAT IS QUITE A BIT HIGHER, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS IS ONLY 0.22% OF YOUR TAX BILL, MEANING THAT THE OTHER 78% IS FROM OTHER PARTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. IT IS NOT FROM THE CITY. SO WE ARE BUDGETING PROPERLY AND WELL, AND YOUR TAX BILL WILL BE A BIT HIGHER, BUT IT WILL REALLY NOT BE BECAUSE OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS PORTION. AND I NEED TO STATE THAT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE RUNNING THE TIGHTEST SHIP AROUND, AND WE ARE QUITE PROUD OF THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT. WE HAVE VOTED ON THAT. SO NOW WE HAVE ONLY ONE MORE ITEM LEFT ON OUR AGENDA. SO IT''S ITEM NUMBER 16. IT IS A PRESENTATION FROM PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE MAY LOVE INITIATIVE. I''M GOING TO CALL UP OUR LOVING COMMISSIONER, WADE HARDY, TO GIVE A PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BRAXTON COUNTY COUNCIL MAY LOVE MAY L UV LIMITED USE VEHICLES.
BASICALLY WE''VE WE''VE BEEN GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE E-BIKES, DELIVERY BIKES, PEOPLE RIDING BIKES AND SIDEWALKS AGAINST TRAFFIC. ET CETERA. AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF IDEAS KICKED AROUND ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THIS. YOU KNOW, UH, MAKING THE REGISTER OF BIKES, MAKING THEM WEAR VEST, MAKING THEM WHATEVER. SO TO START, I DID SOME RESEARCH. WE DID SOME RESEARCH. REACH OUT TO THE NEW ROCHELLE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER AND HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, UH, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY. AND BASICALLY THEY TRIED SEVERAL INITIATIVES. THEY TRIED CITY ORDINANCES REGISTERING THE E-BIKES AND THE DELIVERY PEOPLE LICENSING LOCAL DELIVERIES AND
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EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, MANDATORY TRAINING FOR THE E-BIKE DELIVERY PERSONNEL. UH, DUE TO THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF THE DELIVERY PERSONNEL, THESE INITIATIVES DID NOT WORK. THEY TRIED THEM. THEY DID NOT WORK.SO, UH, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND I AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WE SAID, WHY ARE WE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING AS THEY DID? IT DID NOT WORK. THEY DECIDED THE BEST THING TO DO WAS TO ENFORCE THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAWS THAT ARE IN BOOKS. AND ALSO THEY ALSO HAVE CITY ORDINANCES AGAINST RIDING BIKES AND SIDEWALKS. SO THOSE TWO ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT WE HAVE. WE DECIDED TO GO WITH THAT. UH, THERE ARE SOME PROS FOR THESE BIKES. FOR ONE THING, TO REDUCE CURB CONGESTION, YOU RATHER HAVE 50 E-BIKES IN THE ROAD RATHER THAN 50 CARS STOPPING IN FRONT OF RESTAURANTS, DOUBLE PARKING, AND TRYING TO GET FOOD DELIVERIES SO THAT REDUCE CURB CONGESTION FOR THE RESTAURANTS.
IT''S FASTER HANDOFFS, RESTAURANTS TO GET THE FOOD IN AND OUT FASTER FOR THE FOR THE DELIVERY PERSONNEL, AND ALSO E-BIKES ARE MORE ECO FRIENDLY.
SO THE RESTAURANTS CAN TALK ABOUT BEING GREEN WITH THE DELIVERY FOR THE COMMUNITY. IT BIKES QUIETER THAN CARS. UH, THEY REDUCE ROAD WEAR SO OUR ROADS HAVE LESS WEAR AND TEAR ON THEM AND LOWER EMISSIONS.
THERE ARE SOME KINDS OF E-BIKES, USUALLY THE RADIUS.
THEY GO IN 3 TO 5 MILES, WHERE CARS CAN GO TEN MILES TO MAKE DELIVERIES. UH, PACKAGING CHALLENGES, E-BIKES, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY MAKE DELIVERIES.
SOMETIMES CONTAINERS MAY BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION, FOOD MAY SPILL. THEY MAY NOT, UH, ARRIVE AT THE CUSTOMER''S HOUSE IN GOOD CONDITION. UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY. SIDEWALK FRICTION, MORE BIKES AND SIDEWALK THAT WE''RE TRYING TO ADDRESS. UH, LIKE BIKE LANES AND VISUAL CLUTTER. WHEN YOU SEE BIKES CLUTTERING ONE LOCATION BECAUSE THEY''RE WAITING FOR DELIVERIES, AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE A, UM, YOU KNOW, A, AN EYESORE FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY. WHAT WE DID AND MAY LOVE THE, UM, SINCE MAY, OUR OBJECTIVES WERE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR. WE WANTED TO REDUCE TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS. UH, YOU KNOW, WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET DRIVING, PASSING RED LIGHTS, UH, RIDING WITH NO HEADLIGHTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND ALSO RIDING ON SIDEWALKS. AND WE WANTED TO INCREASE SAFETY FOR NOT ONLY FOR THE E-BIKES, BUT ALSO FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SINCE MAY, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND CARS, ON BIKES AND ON PATROL MADE 65 STOPS OF E-BIKES ON MOTORCYCLES. THEY WROTE 38 TICKETS, GAVE OUT 29 WARNINGS AND WROTE SIX PERSONAL SUMMONSES FOR BIKES AND SIDEWALKS. AND THAT WAS BY OUR OUR OWN, UM, UNIFORMED PERSONNEL. VIOLATIONS INCLUDED UNLICENSED OPERATORS, FAILURE TO OBEY TRAFFIC SIGNALS, EQUIPMENT ISSUES AND EXPIRED INSPECTIONS. UH, SOME DAYS WAS BAD WEATHER, SO THEY COULDN''T GET OUT THERE. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, 65 STOPS SINCE MAY 1ST IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. UM, WE NOTICED A CHANGE IN THE BEHAVIOR. IT''S NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT. NOT EVERYONE''S GOING TO COMPLY. BUT LIKE YOU HEARD EARLIER, BECAUSE OF THE TRANSIENT NATURE, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THESE DELIVERIES DON''T LIVE IN WHITE PLAINS, SO THEY MAY BE IN WHITE PLAINS THIS WEEK. NEXT WEEK THEY MAY BE IN NEW ROCHELLE.
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE IN MANHATTAN. SO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE''RE NOT GOING TO WE''RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE EVERYBODY SO QUICKLY. BUT WITH ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES DOING THE SAME KIND OF ENFORCEMENT, WE ARE SEEING BEHAVIOR. JUST TODAY, WHEN I WAS, UH, OUT HERE FOR THE, UH, CITY HALL, I WALKED UP MAMARONECK AND MAINE AND I SAW TWO E-BIKES COMING UP MAMARONECK AVENUE. THEY GOT TO THE RED LIGHT AT MAIN STREET, AND THEY ACTUALLY STOPPED AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. AND DID IT NOT MAKE THE RIGHT TURN? THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THEY PROCEEDED TO DRIVE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS THEY DIDN''T THEY DON''T KNOW ME, NOT UNIFORM. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE STOPPED. SO WE ARE SEEING CHANGES. WE''RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS THROUGH THE MONTH OF JUNE TO CONTINUE TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTINUE MAKING, UM, CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF, IF IT WORKS WILL CONTINUE. IF IT DOESN''T WORK, WE''LL TRY TO FIX SOME SOME MORE, SOME MORE THINGS. BUT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CASTELLI HAS SOME, SOME FURTHER STATS TO TALK ABOUT AS FAR AS, UH, HISTORICAL WHAT WE''VE BEEN SEEING AND SOME OF OUR, UH, ACTIONS. SO.
CAN BOTH SAY, UP FOR ONE. NO, NO, I WANT YOU BOTH TO STAY THERE FOR ONE SECOND, THOUGH.
JOE OR COMMISSIONER. SORRY. I JUST WANT TO TAKE ONE. I WILL GET TO YOU, NICK. I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF. IN THE 23 YEARS THAT I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FOOT PATROL. AND YOU GUYS BROUGHT BACK FOOT PATROL OR COPS ON THE BEAT. AND I WILL SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND SAY WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL.
HAVING THE PRESENCE OF OUR OFFICERS ON OUR STREETS IS A GREAT THING. IT BUILDS TRUST, IT BUILDS COMMUNITY, IT BUILDS DETERRENCE, AND WE''RE VERY GRATEFUL TO BOTH OF YOU. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CASTELLI AND COMMISSIONER HARDY, FOR FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT MANY PEOPLE IN OF OUR, IN OUR CITY HAVE WANTED FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE''RE ALREADY SEEING THE RESULTS. SO THANK YOU. NOW, MR. WOLFE HAS A QUESTION OR A STATEMENT, AND.
YOUR SHORT STATEMENT ON SOMETHING THAT I THINK MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT. I HAVE NOTICED MANY OF THESE BIKES RIDE SIDESADDLE, AND I DON''T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN DO THAT. THEY''RE NOT ON FEET ON BOTH PEDALS. THEY''RE SITTING SIDEWAYS AND THEY''RE JUST RIDING ALONG. AND I THINK THAT''S EXTRA DANGEROUS AND DOESN''T HAVE A GOOD BALANCE.
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I''VE RIDDEN THE BIKES ALL MY LIFE, SO I DON''T KNOW IF THAT''S SOMETHING ELSE YOU CAN ADDRESS.BUT YEAH, I MEAN, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT AND THERE MIGHT BE I''M NOT SURE THERE COULD BE HEALTH ISSUES, I DON''T KNOW. BUT I WILL LOOK AT THAT. I''VE HEARD SOMETIMES WHEN MEN RIDE BIKES, THEY DO HAVE HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF DON''T RIDING THE REGULAR WAY. I MEAN, WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT LATER ON, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME HEALTH ISSUES. BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. SURE.
UM, SO LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE WRITTEN YOU AND PUT IN A FEW REQUESTS, INCLUDING THE ONE ABOUT, UM, REQUIRING HELMETS, WHICH I THINK IS ALREADY PART OF OUR, IF I''M NOT MISTAKEN, PART OF OUR TRAFFIC ORDINANCES THAT THEY MUST WEAR HELMETS. AND THEN I MADE A REQUEST FOR REFLECTIVE VESTS AND LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HOW SUCCESSFUL HAVE WE BEEN ON THAT END? JUST MAINTAINING THE.
SAFETY BEFORE WE BEFORE WE DO THAT, GET INTO THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. WE SHOULD LET THEM FINISH THEIR REPORT. THAT SEEMS LIKE A SENSIBLE APPROACH.
SORRY. ALL RIGHT. WE''RE ALL FIGURING THIS OUT.
MAYOR. COMMON COUNCIL. UM. UH, COUNCILWOMAN SANTIAGO, CAN YOU ANSWER SOME OF THAT QUICKLY? JUST A BRIEF HISTORICAL. WE WE DID A ENFORCEMENT EDUCATIONAL, UM, PROGRAM TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. UH, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT SMALLER SCALE. UM, AND WE WE DID HAVE A GOOD MEASURE OF COMPLIANCE, I THINK, UM, WE OFFERED REFLECTIVE SASHES. MANY OF THEM TOOK THEM. I DON''T THINK ANY OF THEM EVER WORE THEM. UH, WE''RE CATCHING UP ON THIS. THERE MAY BE SOME TYPE OF STIGMA TO WEARING THEM. I''M NOT SURE IF THAT''S ACCURATE YET, BUT WE DID DO THAT A WHILE BACK, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, UM, THEY DIDN''T WEAR THEM, BUT BUT THE POINT OF WHAT I''M SAYING IS THERE IS AN EBB AND FLOW TO THIS MEANING. UM, IF WE''RE PRIMARILY, UM, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED WITH DELIVERY OF DRIVERS, BIKE RIDERS, THERE ARE SOMEWHAT THEY''LL BE HERE, THEN THEY WON''T BE HERE. THEN A NEW GROUP WILL COME IN. AND, UM, SO PART OF OUR GOAL IS TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE DID IT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. WE''RE DOING ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION NOW AND THEN SEE HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS, MAYBE REVISIT IT. UM, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS, THREE MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONCE A YEAR, ESPECIALLY AS THE WEATHER BREAKS AND AND THE BIKES COME OUT, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO AS TO THE HELMETS, I THINK THE LOCAL ORDINANCE AND I COULD BE WRONG. I DIDN''T BONE UP ON EVERYTHING ON THIS, BUT I THINK THE VMT OVERRIDES THAT. AND I THINK IT''S UNDER UNDER, UM, UH, OVER 16, YOU KNOW, YOU''RE NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR A HELMET, BUT I THINK YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE.
DON''T HOLD ME TO IT. I''M GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT. I''M JUST TRYING TO, UM, GO BY MY HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE OF, UH, THE BICYCLE STUFF. SO, AGAIN, THE COMMISSIONER ASKED ME TO CRUNCH SOME QUICK NUMBERS FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT. UM, SO I HAD SOMEBODY LOOK AT OUR CAMERAS, AND IT WASN''T SOMEWHAT OF AN EXACT SCIENCE, BUT. AND I ONLY FOCUS ON MAMARONECK AND POST FIGURE, AND IT''S A HIGH, HIGH VOLUME AREA FROM NOON TO 02:00 TODAY. AND THEN WE''RE ABOUT 90 TO 100 BICYCLES COUNTED, UH, DURING THAT TIME, SOME OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN REPEAT, LET''S SAY, A BICYCLE IN THIS WAY. AND THEN COMING BACK, IT DOES SEEM HIGH. UM, WITHOUT A DOUBT, E-BIKES, SCOOTERS, SKATE ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS HAVE, UH, INCREASED THE OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, MAJORITY OF THEM ARE THOSE. THESE ARE THE DELIVERY DRIVERS. UM, SO I''M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE AND NUMBERS FROM JUST THE POLICE ANGLE. I''M NOT TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACT, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE IT. BUT, UM, WE WENT BACK FROM THE BEGINNING OF 2020 5TH JANUARY 2025. SO 15 I''M SORRY, 17 MONTHS. UM, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, WE HAD 3000 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORTS. UM, ABOUT 40, UM, INCIDENTS INVOLVED BICYCLES. UM, SO A LITTLE LESS THAN 1.5%, UM, IN TERMS OF INJURIES, LESS THAN 1% HAD INJURIES. AND ALMOST I DON''T THINK ANY OF THEM HAD LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. SOME SOME HAD SOME SERIOUS INJURIES.
UM, WE HAD 24 DOCUMENTED REPORTS THAT ARE THAT STATE REPORT, THE THE MOTOR VEHICLE, IT''S CALLED MV 104, A 24. IN THIS 17 MONTH PERIOD. UM, AND JUST TO BREAK THOSE DOWN, 18 OF THEM DID INVOLVE BICYCLES, WHETHER THEY''RE REGULAR BICYCLES OR E-BIKES. UH, THERE WERE FIVE SCOOTERS OR, UH,
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ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD TYPE OF THINGS. UH, 12 OF THESE, UH, REPORTED INJURIES WERE IN THE CBD. THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND WE, I INCLUDED DOWN TO THE TRAIN STATION AND A LITTLE BIT PAST, UM, MAPLE AVENUE JUST TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, UH, THAN NOT, SEVEN OF THEM. UM, BASED ON LOOKING AT IT, DEFINITELY INCLUDED, UH, DELIVERY DRIVERS, UH, THE DELIVERY BIKE DRIVERS. UM, NINE OF THEM DEFINITELY WERE NOT.AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT THAT WERE, UM, JUST UNKNOWN. WE COULDN''T DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS JUST A, A BIKE RIDER OR SOMEBODY, UH, WORKING. AND ONE ACTUALLY WAS JUST A IT WAS NOT JUST BUT IT WAS A PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY A, UH, MOTORIZED SCOOTER. SO AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE 17 MONTH PERIOD, LITERALLY FROM TODAY, GOING BACK TO JANUARY 1ST, 2025. UM, AGAIN, I DO THINK THAT, UM, WE WE HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB. UH, THE COMMISSIONER BROUGHT UP PERSONAL INFORMATION. I HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN IT WHERE I''VE SEEN A LOT OF BIKES. WHEN THEY GO ON THE SIDEWALK, THEY''RE WALKING THEM. SO THAT IS PROGRESS. WE CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A LOT OF BIKES ON THE SIDEWALKS. AND NOW THERE WE ARE GETTING THEM TO GO IN THE STREET. AND THEN THAT CREATES A NEW CHALLENGE THAT THAT MORE BIKES ON THE STREET WITH THE WITH THE CARS. AND I THINK THAT''S WHERE A LOT OF THE, THE CHALLENGES IS. I ALSO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE X AMOUNT OF, OF INCIDENTS THAT AREN''T REPORTED, MEANING PEOPLE SEE SOMETHING, THEY GET ALARMED BY SOME CONCERN BY SOMETHING, AND MAYBE THEY''RE NOT REPORTING EVERYTHING. UM, SO THAT''S WHY I''M SAYING IT''S JUST A SNAPSHOT. I CAN''T SAY THAT THESE ARE 100% ACCURATE, BUT, UM, UH, THEY''RE JUST GIVING YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE''RE SEEING FROM THE POLICE SIDE ON THE ACTIVITY INVOLVING THESE TYPES OF BICYCLES AND LIMITED USE VEHICLES. UM, SO THAT''S KIND OF IT FROM, FROM FROM MY END. UM, AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND IT''S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE, AND WE WILL BE ADDRESSING IT CERTAINLY ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, UH, WILL CONTINUE.
YEAH. AND JUST GOING BACK ON THE FOOT PATROLS, THEY ARE OUT THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PURPOSE, NOT JUST WALK AROUND, BUT THEY OUT THERE WITH THE PURPOSE, TRYING TO CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
JUST WHEN I WAS WALKING THE BUILDING, UH, FOOT PATROL OFFICER MADE AN ARREST ON MARTIN AVENUE. SOMEBODY WAS URINATING, AND THE OFFICER SAW HIM. SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS AND INCLUDING THE BIKES. SO THEY''RE OUT THERE WITH THEIR PURPOSE.
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT WILL SAY THANK YOU AS USUAL. AND SO THANK YOU TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THE BUDGET. UH, BEFORE WE CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR COMING YESTERDAY TO OUR MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION. IT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL AND MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME FOR US TO ALL THINK WE''RE MEMORIAL. IT''S VERY DIFFERENT THAN VETERAN''S DAY.
WE MEMORIALIZE THOSE THAT ACTUALLY DIED, PROTECTING OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR ABILITY TO SIT HERE TODAY AND HAVE FUNCTIONING AND GOOD DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH DIGNITY AND HONOR AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL WHO IS A VETERAN, TOM CARUSO, AND WE''RE VERY PLEASED TO ALWAYS BRING NEW PERSPECTIVES TO OUR COUNCIL AND OUR CITY. AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING WITH ALL OF US. UH, NOW, LOOKING FORWARD, I AM PLEASED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT JULY 2ND IS PRETTY NEARBY.
THAT IS OUR FIREWORKS. THE HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, AND I HOPE EVERYBODY WILL JOIN US. IT''S A GREAT TIME. AND THEN DON''T FORGET AS WE LOVE CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY, UH, AMERICA WILL BE 250 YEARS OLD. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THAT ON JULY 12TH.
UH, ON MITCHELL PLACE. AND IT
SHOULD BE A BIG AND FANTASTIC CELEBRATION WITH, OF COURSE,
FOOD AND PRESENTATIONS AND REENACTMENTS. THE FIRST PLACE
THAT THE, UH, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS READ IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WAS IN WHITE PLAINS. AND WE WILL, OF COURSE,
HAVE A REENACTMENT OF THAT. AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO JOIN US ON
JULY 12TH TO CELEBRATE OUR COUNTRY. THAT CONCLUDES OUR
MEETING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. HAVE A GREAT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.