Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Albany Common Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2026, beginning at approximately 22:38 UTC. The meeting included public comments on multiple issues, passage of several ordinances and resolutions, committee reports, and councilmember discussion on data centers, surveillance cameras, speed cameras, and the city budget. A total of 14 councilmembers were present at the time of votes.
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to Caucus. If everyone can quiet down, we're gonna start caucus before our meeting. Um first we're gonna go through the agenda. Um for our minutes for approval. Um we'll be voting on the August 17th, 2026 minutes. We can do it. And um next, uh all of our local laws will be held. An ordinances held, we'll be taking up ordinance 158126 from Councilmember Rallarin, which uh passed the law buildings and code enforcement meeting. Um that is an ordinance amending Article 5 of chapter 245 of the Code of City of Albany in relation to updating the fee and light documentation requirements for domestic partnerships. Uh Councilmember Ballarin is not here yet. He should be here momentarily, but um that passed with a positive recommendation from the law committee. Um, and that is just updating things slightly and it including the cost, so it's uh aligned with our cost for marriage licenses. Next in resolutions introduced from councilmember Keegan. Um we have resolution 959126R, resolution of the Common Council celebrating September 7th as Labor Day. We are all co-sponsors on that, still into that. I'm going to take that as a yes because that was a resounding yes last time. Um next from Councilmember Ballorin, resolution 969126R, resolution of the Common Council recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture of Latinos in the United States. Um we were all co-sponsors on that, and I believe we will remain so. Yes. Um next from myself, resolution 979126R, a resolution of the Common Council recognizing September a suicide awareness month in the City of Albany. Yes, we are still all co-sponsors on that. In resolutions introduced, or I'm sorry, resolutions held from Councilmember Zamer, resolution 888126R, which is a resolution of the Common Council consenting to the appointment of Chester Bennett to the Albany Parking Authority Board of Directors. And I believe Mr. Bennett was supposed to come in here. If you want to come up and say hello to us, we'd welcome you up. Thank you very much, Councilmember Lumpkin. Thank you. Hello, good evening. Thanks so much, Mr. Bennett. Uh, if you don't mind telling us a little bit about yourself and um we look forward to hearing about it. Sure, absolutely. Uh first of all, it's an honor to be considered for this appointment and this opportunity to serve the city. I really always value the opportunity to get involved in the ground level and make change in my community in ways I can see tangibly on the ground. Um I've lived here for six years now, moved after college for work in state government and fell in love with the area and want to stay here and and sort of you know put down roots and raise my family here. Um I've been involved in a number of local civic organizations, including uh nonprofits like walkable Albany and and uh the Albany Bicycle Coalition to political organizations like the Democratic Party, and I'm really excited to continue the work of making the city better. Thank you so much. Does anybody have any questions? Um I would just say we truly appreciate people that are willing to step up and serve on boards and commissions. They are all important and something as important as the parking authority, which doesn't sound overly exciting, but yet there's nothing that people talk about more in the city of Albany than parking. So it is incredibly important, and it's important for us to have people who are willing to spend their time serving on these boards and commissions and um offer their expertise in it. So we really appreciate your willingness to serve and your willingness to come in and introduce yourself to us. Thank you so much.