Parking at the Field Library, bed and breakfasts, a cut in city hall operating hours and a gun buyback program are just a few items officials plan to discuss during tonight’s Peekskill workshop meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., inside Peekskill city hall.
Chuck Utschig, an engineering consultant with the Birdsall Engineering Group, and Sibyl Canaan , director of the Field Library, are scheduled to present revised plans to add additional parking spaces.
The library secured a $113,385 grant from the Public Library Grant Construction from the New York State Library System in 2010-2011 for improvements and renovations to Hayes Plaza. The city then allocated $113,385 to match the grant.
Earlier this year, library officials presented a plan to include nine new parking spaces to the Hayes Plaza, where the library is located, and an island added in the middle of Nelson Avenue for pedestrians crossing the street.
City officials had safety concerns with the plan and asked the library to come up with a plan that included improvements to the city’s municipal lot on Main Street.
- Due to staff reductions that were made during this year’s budget, city officials will discuss the possibility of cutting public hours to city hall from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. This would allow city staff members more time to finish their paperwork.
- The city Youth Bureau has received a grant from Westchester County for $246,793 to fund a Youth Build Employment program. The program will give 20 at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, an opportunity to receive GED instruction, life skills preparation and construction skills training. This is the city’s first year doing the program.
- Acting police Chief Eric Johansen has proposed that the city start a gun buy back program. The county has asked the city to pledge $2,500 and manpower. The county would pay for any guns purchased after the city has depleted the $2,500. The city would pay for the the program through police department’s asset forfeiture.
- City officials plan to fill vacancies on the planning commission, zoning board of appeals, historic landmark preservation board and ethics board.
- City officials plan to review changing to the zoning laws that would allow bed and breakfasts in the downtown historic district. Planning officials recommend approving the plan during the Jan. 28 Common Council meeting.
Check here for the rest of tonight’s agenda.
