According to an article in Friday’s Jamestown Post-Journal, Snellings appeared Thursday before the the Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission’s Health Care Action Team to give an update on illegal drugs in the city.

The police chief said there’s also been an increase in cocaine, but police are not seeing heroin as much as they were in just 4 to 5 years ago.
In addition to the update on drug activity, Snellings also said the city police are working with the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County and county officials to map where overdoses take place in the city.

In addition, the police are also sending information about how to receive help for addiction, including information about peer groups in the area.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

JAMESTOWN – The proposed Gateway Lofts project at the Gateway Center building on Water Street was the focus of discussion during Thursday’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission meeting.

The Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission during its Aug. 16, 2018 meeting.

Representatives from the law firms representing the two main developers of the project – Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) and Community Helping Hands – went over the specific details of the plan. Representatives of STEL, Community Helping Hands, and the YWCA of Jamestown were also on hand to provide information and answer questions.

• GATEWAY LOFTS POWER POINT PRESENTATION

Those on hand representing the project developers were STEL Development Director Steven Ald, Community Helping Hands Executive Director Tami Berg, YWCA executive director Jacqueline Chiarot Phelps, and attorneys Steven Ricca with Bond, Schoeneck & King and Matt Mazgaj from Phillips Lytle.

At the start of the presentation, Ricca explained why the Gateway Center was selected.

“This particular site selection was based on a complex algorithm of a number of factors – acreage, zoning, support services, access to transportation, and the like. So we didn’t take site selection here lightly at all,” Ricca said.

The development proposal, situated on the 5.8 acre Gateway Center location, is described as a multifamily affordable housing project that would include 70 housing units. Of these units, 39 would offer affordable housing options, 16 would go to single-parent families assisted by the YWCA, and 25 units administered by STEL would be designated for non-violent individuals who are homeless and have a serious mental illness or a substance use disorder with a history of criminal offending or are at risk of offending.

Attorney Steven Ricca with Bond, Schoeneck & King presents to the city Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission.

Ricca also said that the project will address a concerned outlined in the city’s recent poverty reduction study released in 2017.

“Housing is problematic for low-income residents as the cost of renting is very high and quality, affordable housing is scarce,” Ricca said. “The study also focused on a key concern that folks weren’t maintaining their properties and that there were delinquent properties. I’m aware of the fact that you have affordable housing developments in this city that you are aware of and are not very happy about. One thing I will say, however, is that this is not a situation where STEL will develop the property and then walk away. STEL will manage the property.”

The project still needs to undergo several hurdles, including a review by the city Planning Commission in September as well as securing funding for a total project cost of $34 million. The cost would be covered through a combination of state and federal tax credits that can be sold to investors, along with community investment funds and grants.

The project partners have already received a $970,000 state grant to develop the design.

The $34 million price tag is due to abatement issues that would need to be addressed in the current building, which is the former Chautauqua Hardware building built in the late 19^th century and which currently houses several nonprofit service operations including St. Susan Center, Community Helping Hands, a Daycare facility, and the Mental Health Association – among others.  Developers say the presence of those agencies on-site is one of the key reasons why the location was selected for the proposed project.

No zoning waivers would be needed because the location is already in an area of the city zoned for multi residential use.

Artist’s rendering of the Gateway Lofts project upon completion.

In all, the commission members spent an hour-and-a-half hearing details about the project and asking questions as well as raising concerns.

Commission Co-Chair Greg Rabb – who also chairs the city Planning Commission – explained why it was important for the group to appear before the Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission.

“If this project goes forward, it’s a big project, and it has more than just an effect on the immediate area. I think it has an effect on the entire community and that’s one of the reasons why this commission exists. We are part of the city of Jamestown and appointed by the mayor and approved by the council, so our goal here – with representatives from the public sector and the private sector and from inside the city and outside the city – to look at projects from a much bigger perspective than the narrow perspective which we’ll be taking from the planning commission. So we want to have this discussion because I knew this process was percolating and had a couple of questions and concerns,” Rabb said.

One of Rabb’s questions and concerns focused on the project being located in a food desert area of the city where fresh food wasn’t readily available.  Another concern was that the city currently has a significant amount of housing stock that could be used to help provide homes for the individuals this project is aimed at, while also noting that this project would concentrate a large number of people into a single area instead of working to integrate them into the community. Rabb also noted that the developers need to reach out to members of the city council and the Chautauqua County legislator who represents that area so they can be aware of the details of the project and share with constituents who will likely have questions.

The officials with the project responded to Rabb’s concerns about access to healthy food by explaining transportation would be made available through CARTS to help residents get back and forth to nearby supermarkets and the Jamestown Public Market’s mobile food market program could also help with providing healthier food options on site. They also noted that the concentration vs. integration issue was open to debate, considering there currently isn’t a lot of options for affordable and quality apartment housing in the city.

According to the developers, support for the project has been given by several local officials, including: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Catherine Young, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, County Executive George Borrello, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and IDA director Mark Geise, Sheriff Joseph Gerace, county Health and Human Services Director Christine Schuyler, and the Homeless Coalition.

The project will likely be looked at further during the Sept. 18 meeting of the city planning commission.

On Thursday, March 15, representatives with the Chautauqua Area Regional Transit System (CARTS) met with the city’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission to share details of public transportation in the area.

During the conversation, CARTS officials informed the commission members that they are looking for a new central terminal area for the buses in the city. That’s because Gebbie Foundation executive director Greg Edwards informed CARTS recently that the buses will soon no longer be able to stand and wait along W. Second Street in front of the Gateway Train Station and the soon-to-be-opened National Comedy Center. That portion of the street will be temporarily be closed this spring to make way for the public piazza project. In addition, construction at the NCC is interfering with the waiting area that is used by riders.

Edwards, who also served as Chautauqua County Executive for eight years prior to joining the Gebbie Foundation, tells WRFA he brought the issue forward to CARTS because of his familiarity with the bus system due to his work as county executive, as well as because of his involvement with downtown Jamestown development through Gebbie.

Jamestown City Council president Marie Carrubba, who serves on the Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission, said Thursday was the first she had heard that there was a need for finding a new location for the buses, adding that the city and public safety committee will have to review and okay the relocation.

“It needs to go to the Public Safety Committee since this is an issue on the streets involving how vehicles will get around the buses, as well as the passengers who attempt to ride CARTS and will be getting on and off the buses. We need to really look at this and see how we’ll get people safely through that area and if there is a relocation, probably as close in proximity to the area that people are used to going to to get on the buses,” Carrubba said.

Another concern that came up during the discussion is the requirement that a portion of the train station remain open for public use because part of its restoration was funded by federal transportation money, meaning that any future use of the facility needed to be tied in some way to public transportation.  Since the train station currently does not have passenger service trains, Carrubba noted that the only other public transportation use for it at this time is as a central terminal for the CARTS system.

“The issue of receiving the federal funds for that transportation hub, we need to keep that open as a transportation hub. I know there have been a few discussions, I think because there are some concerns with the amount of people that will be traveling through that area, especially when we have visitors from out of town [for the National Comedy Center. We’ll be looking at that too, but I think it needs to first go before public safety for any suggestions and discussion,” Carrubba said.

According to Carrubba, the city’s public safety committee will discuss the matter in the coming weeks, while city officials will also be in contact with CARTS officials to help address the relocation issue.

CARTS has used the area in front of the Gateway Train Station since February 2013.  Before that the waiting area was at Baker Park between W. Fourth and Fifth Streets in the city.

On Thursday JRC Executive Director Lisa Hatch presented the outline of the JRC Ambassador Program to the city’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission, saying downtown businesses will need to be prepared for an influx of out-of-town visitors when the National Comedy Center opens later this year, and that means making a positive first impression.

“We only have one chance to make that first impression,” Hatch explained. “If somebody Googles or Yelps or puts something online saying they had a miserable time because they had a cold sandwich or were treated rudely, it’s going to impact and the impact of a bad review could be colossal to the whole project.”

As a result of trying to make a positive first impression, Hatch said the JRC will be launching its Ambassador program, which will focus on working with 33 different businesses in the downtown over the coming months.

“The goal of the program is to create a low-cost yet efficient method so that our guests would be led to knowledgeable, trained people who can offer excellent interactions, and those people are our brick and mortar business owners. So our goal is to have business owners help create an even more welcoming environment so when people leave here  they feel safe and welcome,” Hatch said.

A component of the Ambassador program will be an online training session for participating businesses at no cost to them. IN addition, signage that will highlight the downtown ambassadors will also be installed, either on the sidewalk, in store front windows, and/or hanging over the entrance of a business.

Hatch said all the details are just about worked out and the JRC will begin engaging with downtown businesses in the coming weeks. That engagement will include invitations to upcoming meetings, promotions through social media and traditional news media, and in-person outreach at various business locations.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council held its inaugural voting session on Monday night at City Hall.

Councilwoman Marie Carrubba (D-Ward 4) was tapped to replace previous council president Greg Rabb, who lost reelection in November. She has served on the city council since 2013 and has chaired the council’s housing committee and also served on the public safety committee.  As city council president, Carrubba will preside over all council meetings, appoint its standing and special committees, and perform the duties of mayor in his/her absence. Carrubba will also serve as co-chair of the city’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission and was appointed by Mayor Sam Teresi to serve on the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Carrubba is just the second woman to serve as council president, following former council women Dr. Lillian Ney, who was council president a little over a decade earlier.

Rabb, meanwhile, will remain active in city government with a seat at the BPU and on the city Planning Commission. Rabb was appointed by Teresi to serve on the BPU to replace outgoing member Tyler Case. Rabb previously served on the BPU while president of the city council. Case, meanwhile, was appointed to the Jamestown Local Development Corporation.

WOMEN HOLD MAJORITY

For the first time in its history, a majority of women will hold seats on the City Council. Joining Carrubba are council members at large Kim Ecklund (R) and newcomer Vanessa Weinert (D), along with councilwoman Vicki James (D-Ward 3) and Maria Jones (D-Ward 4).  Jones will continue serving on the BPU. Ecklund will serve on the JLDC board.

Councilman Tony Dolce (R-Ward 2) will once again serve as the council’s finance committee chair.

City resident Tim Smeal was appointed to the JLDC as a representative of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST).  Smeal currently serves as Director of Development at Jamestown Community College and previously had served on the mayor’s ad hoc Downtown Parking Committee.

Also appointed to another four-year term to Public Safety Director was Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings, who’s held that dual role since 2010.

A Complete list of appointments is available below.

LIUZZO VOTES ‘NO’

Prior to voting the council members took their oath of office. Joining Carrubba, Ecklund, Weinert, James, Jones and Dolce were returning council members Brent Sheldon (R-Ward 1) and Tom Nelson (D-Ward 6) along with newcomer Andrew Liuzzo (R-At Large).

Liuzzo was the only council member to vote “not” to electing Carrubba as president.  In all Carrubba received five nominations as president (all from the Democratic members of the council). Others who received nominations were Dolce (two nominations from Sheldon and Ecklund) and Ecklund (one nomination from Dolce). Liuzzo had nominated Jones.  Once nominations had ended, Liuzzo made a motion to vote for the president by secret ballot rather than a roll call vote. His motion didn’t receive a supporting second and was declared dead by city clerk Todd Thomas. The council then voted 8 to 1 in favor of Carrubba as president.

Liuzzo also voted against Teresi’s 27 agency appointments, which were blocked together into a single vote. After the appointments were announced, a motion was made to suspend the rules and vote on the appointments collectively, to which Liuzzo voted “absolutely no.”  He also voted “no” on the actual appointments. All other council members supported both the motion to suspend the rules and the actual appointment vote and they passed 8 to 1.

The Council’s first work session of the new year is set for Monday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room (4th floor) of City Hall.

2018 Mayoral Appointments

* New Appointment
** Council member appointed by Mayor
*** Council President appointment

Department Head:

• Harry L. Snellings  – Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police – Term Expires: 12/31/2021

Zoning Board of Appeals

• Sally Martinez – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• Patricia Calanni – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• Richard Hanson – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• *James Olson – Term Expires: 12/31/2020

Board of Assessment Review

• *Thomas Vitale – Term Expires: 09/30/2022
• Board of Electrical Examiners
• James MacTavish – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• Steve Nowell – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Board of Public Utilities

• Martha Zenns – Term Expires: 12/31/2019 (filling unexpired term of T. Case/resigned)
• Ralph Wallace – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• Charles Cornell – Term Expires: 12/31/2021
• *Gregory Rabb – Term Expires: 12/31/2021
• **Maria Jones – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• **Marie Carrubba – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Parks, Recreation and Conservation

• **Vanessa Weinert – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• **Kimberly Ecklund – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• *David Reinhardt – Term Expires: 12/31/2022
• *Aubrey Russell – Term Expires: 12/31/2022

Planning

• Jeffrey Nelson – Term Expires: 12/31/2022
• *Gregory Rabb – Term Expires: 12/31/2022 (Chair)
• ***Thomas Nelson – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Property Rehabilitation and Conservation Board of Appeals

• *Sandra Stewart – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• Mary Lynne Videll – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• ***Brent Sheldon – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Riverfront Management Council

• **Kimberly Ecklund – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• *Vanessa Weinert – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• Jade Barber – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• William Stevenson – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• *Luke Fodor – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• *Aubrey Russell               12/31/2020

Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission

• Paul Leone – Term Expires: 12/31/2022
• ***Marie Carrubba – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• ***Anthony Dolce – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Veterans Memorial Commission

• Sharon Terwilliger – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• Russell Diethrick, Jr. – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• Tom Abbott – Term Expires: 12/31/2020
• *Daniel Kell – Term Expires: 12/31/2019

Jamestown Local Development Corporation

• **Kimberly Ecklund – Term Expires: 12/31/2019
• *Tyler Case – Term Expires: 12/31/2018 (At Large member)
• *Timothy Smeal               – Term Expires: 12/31/2018 (MAST representative)
• Russell Diethrick, Jr – Term Expires: 12/31/2018 (Chaut. Co. Chamber of Commerce representative)
• John Whittaker – Term Expires: 12/31/2018 (JRC representative)

A map depicting the current layout of parking spaces in downtown Jamestown, as of November 2017. Recommendations from the city’s ad hoc downtown parking committee would make several changes to downtown parking, including the removal of the two-hour free parking zone in the heart of the downtown.

JAMESTOWN – After nearly a year-and-a-half of meetings and research, the city of Jamestown’s ad hoc Parking Advisory Committee has come forward with recommendations on how to improve parking in the downtown.

During Monday’s Jamestown City Council work session, representatives from the committee were on hand to provide a report that highlighted solutions to the problems and challenges associated with downtown parking as it relates to people who live, work, and/or visit the downtown.

The ad hoc committee was established by Mayor Sam Teresi in July 2016 to study downtown parking and bring forward recommendations. the committee was comprised of representatives of downtown businesses and destinations, along with city officials.

• READ FULL POWER POINT PRESENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Among the solutions that were brought forward:

• All two-hour meters converted to three-hour meters.
• All exceptions to remain in place (i.e. 30-minute meters, load/unload zones, handicapped spots etc.)
• All non-lease surface lot meters converted to 12-hours.
• 12-hour meters will be placed on the outskirts of the Central Business District (i.e. 5th and 6th Streets)
• Improve the fairness of enforcement by eliminating the confusing “courtesy zone” [“Free Zone”].
• Clarify parking regulation signage throughout the former “courtesy zone.”
• Current “courtesy zone” spaces converted to three-hour meters.
• THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN PARKING FEES!
  • Parking ramp and lease space rates will remain the same.
  • Fees will remain $.25 per 1⁄2 hour, $.50 per hour for Central Business District and 12-hour surface lots.
  • Fees for 12-hour, outskirt meters will be decreased to $.25 per hour.
• Make paying for parking convenient and flexible by installing multi-function, “smart” meters.
  • Continue to accept coins.
  • Accept credit card payments.
  • Set up a pay-by-phone app that is integrated with or independent of “smart” meters.
• Implement a more user-friendly signage system for lease/non-lease spots in surface lots.
• Implement signage program to easily identify public parking facilities.
• Design and implement a wayfinding system to lead motorists to attractions and long-term parking for those attractions.

All recommendations will be presented to the city’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission on Thursday morning, Nov. 16 and will then be considered by city lawmakers for possible implementation, most likely next year.

The City of Jamestown’s Cultural Bridges Action Team (part of the city’s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission), Reg Lenna Center for The Arts, and 3rd on 3rd Gallery are inviting the public to a day and evening of free activities on Saturday, Oct. 15 as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

As part of the weekend, the current 3rd on 3rd Gallery show, Hispanic Heritage, will culminate with a public “Meet the Artist” reception on Saturday  at 2 p.m. with Pablo Shine.

Also on Saturday at 4:45 p.m., the Reg Lenna Center for The Arts Theater will present a short video – Jamestown: The Welcoming City – examining the lives of local Hispanic citizens and their experiences in Jamestown.

Then at 5 p.m. a Community Conversation will take place, with the topics of Migration and Inclusion planned to be discussed in this town hall-style event. In light of the current economic crisis in Puerto Rico and the growing population of Puerto Ricans in Jamestown, this public discussion will address issues related to migration, inclusion, and the complex relationship between the U.S. and its Territory.

The event will immediately be followed by a Latino Food Fiesta hosted by CHQ Foods. A cash bar will be open to offset costs for the evening. Both events are not ticketed and are free and open to the public.

The evening will end with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. by David Gonzalez with the band, Poetic License.

Hispanic Heritage events are made possible by support from New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and New York Council for the Humanities.

For more information, call 716.484.7070 or visit reglenna.com. Reg Lenna Center for The Arts and 3rd on 3rd Gallery are located at 116 E. 3rd Street in Jamestown.

Just ten resolutions have been pre-filed for the Monday night meeting, including a resolution to accept $35,000 from the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation. The money will be earmarked for the Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission’s Physician Recruitment Project, which is designed to help attract physicians to the Jamestown area.

The city will also act on resolutions to accept $7000 from the Sheldon Foundation and $5000 from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for the city’s summer playground program.

In addition to the pre-filed resolutions, there’s a chance that it could also appoint a new member of the Board of Public Utilities.

A report in the Jamestown Post-Journal says that Mayor Sam Teresi could possibly be naming a nominee to fill the vacant position on the BPU that was previously held by Fred Larson. The BPU position opened up after Larson accepted Teresi’s nomination to become the second full-time city judge. The announcement for his replacement could come as soon as Monday’s meeting. If that’s the case, the city council must also vote to approve the appointment.

Once the new board members is selected and approved by City Council, they will finish the remainder of Larson’s four-year term, which will expire at the end of 2017.

Tonight’s meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Commission Chair Jennifer Satalino said that job creation and retention continue to be a main priority for the commission in 2013.  That includes an effort to recruit new physicians into the area. And while some progress is being made on that front, commission Member and retired physician Dr. Lillian Ney admitted it is a challenge.

“It’s been slow,” Ney said. “Our basic obstacle is competitiveness out there in the marketplace. People are offering very large incentives to young physicians who are really laden with student loans approximating $200,000-250,000. This make it really tough.”

Dr. Ney did add, however, that the local foundations and the hospital and other medical offices have been working to develop a plan that would attract more physicians into the area.

In addition to the physician recruitment goal, the commission also updated the council on other initiatives including the Brian Gain initiative which is aimed at bringing young professionals into the Jamestown area. The commission also continues to work with other groups, such as the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, to get updates on the implementation the city’s Urban Design Plan.

City Council President Greg Rabb says it appears the commission is continuing to make good progress not only developing various long term goals, but also working with other groups and officials to help move toward meeting them.

ABOUT SPPC
The Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission was created to continuously consider, develop and make recommendations for strategic initiatives to the Jamestown City Council and other organizations within the greater Jamestown area with respect to issues involving economics, the quality-of-life, equity and opportunity and to develop and establish community-wide goals and objectives for the future. In the development and making of its recommendations, the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission shall utilize as resources the departments of the City of Jamestown, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, public and private housing and development organizations, private enterprise and the Metro Six which is comprise of the City of Jamestown, Town of Ellicott, Town of Busti, Village of Falconer, Village of Celoron and Village of Lakewood.