OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

New Rochelle Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 14, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, July 14, 2026
BodyNew Rochelle, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, July 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:31:52

Transcript — Verbatim
0:32

Good afternoon and welcome to the July 2026 committee of the whole meeting.

0:36

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

0:38

Mayor Raymond Serber here.

0:40

Councilmember Lopez here.

0:41

Councilmember Tarantino.

0:43

Here.

0:43

Council Member Peters.

0:45

Councilmember Asin Laye.

0:47

Councilmember Kay.

0:49

And Councilmember Sturgeon.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Thank you so much, Madam Clerk.

0:51

And again, welcome to the July 2026 committee for the whole meeting.

0:55

Our first two items on the agenda are actually presentations, but before we begin, I just wanted to give a little bit of personal privilege.

1:01

A shout out to the two interns at the mayor's office, Tahula and Ariana, rising seniors, brilliant Nirishalian women, who are going to be hanging out working in the office, but I think reflective of the over 500 young people that our Parks and Rec team have employed and have working.

1:17

So if you see the average age in City Hall looking a little lower, it's mostly because we have a lot of young energy in the space.

1:24

But I just wanted to give them a little bit of a shout out and a plug at this meeting.

1:27

And now we'll get back to the business at hand.

1:29

Item number one is our city manager's presentation on the quality of life initiative update.

1:36

Okay.

1:41

Thank you.

1:44

So this is an update.

1:46

We started this highlighting our quality of life initiatives last July.

1:52

So this is a year into it.

1:54

So some of these slides are repetitive, but I think it's worth going over them again.

2:01

So quality of life, overall well-being of our residents, including our businesses, visitors, clean neighborhoods, safe streets, sufficient transportation, everything everybody wants to have as a resident here in the Roy Shell.

2:18

Just one thing I always like to highlight is that you know while this growth has strengthened, we've experienced tremendous growth over the last several years.

2:31

So sanitation, traffic, parking, code enforcement, public safety, and neighborhood maintenance.

2:37

So with this great development and this vibrancy that we've seen in the last especially last 10 years, it also is uh in you know causing a demand on our services and we have to uh account for that as we go through our mission here.

2:57

So our mission statement.

2:59

So uh enhance the quality of life for newer shell community members by providing clean and safe uh accessible public amenities, uh promoting economic vitality and innovation and embracing collaborative civic engagement.

3:12

We kind of look at two major buckets.

3:15

There's physical things that we do, and there's there's the humanistic side that we're we also uh look at.

3:23

So again, this is an update.

3:25

Last year we highlighted a lot of the major things, and I'm happy to report that we've really either completed or really established these initiatives.

3:37

Um a lot of things we uh identified last year are downtime downtown police bicycle patrols that was established and it's been very effective.

3:48

We um started our security patrols and our um facilities in the downtown area, the ITC center, the train station, the new rock garage to increase that presence there, and I think that's been effective.

4:04

Um we also initiated parking facility enhanced maintenance.

4:09

Uh we initiated a vacancy registration program that proactively tracks and addresses long-term vacancies.

4:17

We have a 30% sign-up rate at this moment.

4:21

Um last year we really hit hard on smoke shop regulations, massage parlor uh uh regulations where we actually were able to that led to the the closing of around 13 establishments.

4:35

We looked at our plaza, some code refinements to uh increase our you know rules and regulations and our public assembly areas.

4:44

Uh we had a Vanguard District Public ROM improvement program and we had a lot of elements to that, and uh we'll be talking about that in our next presentation.

4:54

Uh uh last year, the coming out of the city manager's office and a big effort by our W City Manager.

5:01

We established our cooling centers, which are in fact in effect today.

5:06

So we have eight uh cooling centers that are part of our program, and that's been effective and they're being utilized.

5:14

We increased our properly code enforcement.

5:18

We started and have implemented some sidewalk and plaza upgrades.

5:24

There's more to come on that.

5:25

Soap and water initiative has uh substantially begun.

5:29

We have we're in contract to begin that uh in earnest, and we uh initiated a need assistance campaign, which really got together all of the existing resources that the that we have within our grasp and and had that campaign to let people know what's out there and what's available as far as resources.

5:50

So just highlight a lot of the things that we you know identified last year, we were able to establish, and they're ongoing right now.

6:01

So just a couple of uh updates on some of the stuff that we did initiate last year.

6:08

Um so over at Ruby D park, right in the central part of our downtown.

6:14

We had a building that we thought was a little underutilized, but we thought would be a public uh a great location for public safety presence within the park.

6:24

So we uh scoped it out, we initiated a contract, uh, and we're happy to say we finished all the uh the repairs and improvements for that facility.

6:33

It's actually occupied by our police department right now.

6:37

Uh so we completed a total roof repair, we installed an HVA system so that they can be utilized both in the winter and summer.

6:44

Uh we upgraded the interior finishes.

6:47

There's a couple pictures of what it looks like inside right now, so it's a nice uh little uh location for our police officers to um do paperwork and to have a presence there within the heart of the downtown.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████11%
Economic Development██████████10%
Transportation Safety█████████9%
Affordable Housing█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Environmental Protection████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Animal Welfare██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

New Rochelle Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 14, 2026

This meeting of the New Rochelle City Council as a Committee of the Whole took place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, beginning at approximately 2:45 PM local time (20:45 UTC). The agenda included two major presentations – an update on Quality of Life initiatives and a comprehensive Development Update – followed by a public hearing, a series of routine consent items, and a discussion regarding the selection process for the city council’s representative to the Business Improvement District (BID). The meeting concluded with a public comment period and a motion to enter executive session to discuss a settlement.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 5–9 (Parking & Traffic Regulation Changes): Approved amendments to the city code to improve safety, including no parking on Whitestone Place, no parking on Central Avenue, no turn on red at Trinity Place and Church Street during school hours, traffic flow improvements on Nardozi Place and Industrial Lane, and a correction to snow emergency streets on The Boulevard East.
  • Item 10 (Donation of Soccer Balls): Accepted a donation of 200 FIFA-themed soccer balls from the Conference of Mayors for the summer soccer finale.
  • Item 11 (Taxi Rate Increase): Approved an amendment to Chapter 290 to allow a rate increase for the New Rochelle Taxi Association, after a successful motion to remove the word “mechanically” from the definition of a taxi meter. (Motion to amend passed; amended item moved to consent.)
  • Item 12 (Ambulance Contract): Authorized an increase to the Empress Ambulance contract to fund a third 24-hour downtown ambulance, with no additional budget impact.
  • Item 13 (Capital Budget Amendment): Approved reallocations within the 2026 capital budget, including correcting prior charges and adding a $250,000 grant for Stevenson Park.
  • Items 15–16 (Davenport Neck Zoning – Lead Agency and Public Hearing): Declared the city as lead agency for the environmental review of proposed waterfront residential zoning amendments and scheduled a public hearing for September 8, 2026.
  • Item 17 (Downtown Overlay Zone Amendments): Adopted the 2026 DOZ amendments, including the final environmental findings and updated zoning text, moved to consent without a roll call vote.
  • Item 18 (Social Security Administration Parking): Authorized a five-year agreement to provide 12 parking permits in the Nirac Garage at $9,180 per year.
  • Item 19 (Pro-Housing Grant): Accepted a $250,000 technical assistance grant from NYS Homes and Community Renewal to develop a multifamily rehabilitation program for naturally occurring affordable housing.
  • Item 20 (CFA Grant Applications): Authorized submission of 14 consolidated funding applications seeking $9.7–10.3 million for projects including downtown revitalization, transportation safety, climate action, stormwater, and parks.
  • Item 22 (Housing Choice Voucher Program): Set a public hearing for September 8, 2026, on the 2027 annual PHA plan and administrative plan.
  • Item 24 (Sign Code Modernization): Declared the city as lead agency for proposed amendments to Chapter 270 to allow streamlined approval of projecting blade signs.
  • Item 25 (Parking Fees and Time Limits): Approved adjustments to downtown parking fees, including increased penalties for overparking and double parking, elimination of the same-day discount, and a 20% discount for veterans and seniors.
  • Item 26 (Hope Community Services Contract): Approved an amendment to the 2026 budget and a contract with Hope Community Services for $249,720 to provide enhanced homeless assistance, case management, and security.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Hearing (CDBG & HOME Annual Action Plan): No speakers registered; the hearing was closed.
  • Community to Be Heard:
    • Speaker 1 (Shane, President of Sono New Rochelle Association): Expressed strong concern about a “traffic epidemic” in downtown, citing multiple recent accidents including a fractured leg on Center Avenue. Urged the council to reduce speed limits and increase enforcement, noting that the area includes schools, museums, and businesses.
    • Paul Martin (55 Decatur Road): Voiced opposition to the Davenport Neck rezoning proposal, arguing that the city ignored overwhelming resident opposition at three public meetings. He criticized the zoning change as a reversal of 2016 promises and a concession to a developer with a reported environmental record. He urged the council to be as protective of Davenport Neck residents as previous councils were.
    • Jimena Francella (51 Echo Bay Drive): Praised the $11 million county allocation for OASI but opposed the Davenport Neck development, stating it would set a bad precedent. She raised concerns about rumors of hourly rentals at the marina and noted that none of the 100+ families in the Davenport Association support the proposal.
    • Vince Mafatano (Channel 9): Called for a city legislative agenda, particularly regarding e-bike and scooter safety. He noted a new New Jersey law requiring registration and insurance for e-bikes over 20 mph and criticized the city’s inaction and low enforcement. He also commented on the BID representation discussion, suggesting the council could simply change the representative if dissatisfied.

Discussion Items

  • Quality of Life Initiative Update (City Manager’s Presentation): The city manager reported on a year of progress, including: completion of a police kiosk at Ruby D Park, LED streetlight replacements (120 completed, 150 more planned), the Mobile NR app (678 submissions), state legislative approval for school zone speed cameras, increased traffic enforcement (double parking violations up 90%), and a new pilot program for pet waste management requiring stations at multifamily properties. A major focus was an integrated pest management program for rodents, reporting 41 poison-free traps installed, over 3,500 rodents caught (1,879 on city property), and coordinated cleanups at hotspots like Fountain Place, Carnegie Library, and Memorial Plaza. Council members praised the comprehensiveness but asked for more data on downtown crime rates, urged expansion of rodent control to neglected areas (e.g., Westchester Place, Prince and Lincoln), and requested a heat map for crime data. Councilmember Sturgeon emphasized the importance of poison-free methods to protect birds. Councilmember Tarantino noted the need for a better name for the expanded Downtown Overlay Zone.
  • Development Update (Commissioner of Development and Sarah Spicer): The presentation covered implementation of the Green NR climate action plan, with a completed climate vulnerability assessment, silver-level Climate Smart Communities application, 40 tons of food scraps collected, and a new EV charging project at New Rochelle Garage. Transportation and mobility plans included the Local Safety Action Plan, a $2.5 million county complete streets grant for Quaker Ridge Road, and the first bike lane and bioswale on Pinebrook Boulevard. The “Link” project on Lincoln Avenue remains stalled awaiting state DOT approval, despite $16 million in state funding. The commissioner reported $2.5 billion in private investment, 11,000 residential units authorized, a 91% occupancy rate, and 20% affordable housing. The Downtown Overlay Zone amendments were finalized to incentivize ground-floor retail, improve sustainability, and promote missing middle housing. The community benefit bonus fund shows $8.2 million in cash received (with $1.2 million remaining) and $33 million in in-kind improvements. The Vanguard retail vacancy rate is 21% (59 spaces), with 21 of those spaces targeted for redevelopment. Councilmember Peters expressed frustration that District 3 remains neglected, citing the lack of progress on the Link and persistent infrastructure issues. He urged the city to establish a volunteer infrastructure to help residents maintain health insurance under changing federal rules. Councilmember Kay requested more quantifiable data from the greenhouse gas inventory and asked about the timing of the planned housing study (expected fall 2026). Councilmember Asin Laye sought a formal process for selecting the council’s BID representative, leading to a discussion; the city manager agreed to bring back recommendations in September.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent calendar items were approved by voice vote, including the amended taxi rate ordinance, the Davenport Neck public hearing and lead agency resolutions, the DOZ amendments, the Hope Community Services contract, and parking fee adjustments.
  • The public hearing for the 2026 CDBG and HOME Annual Action Plan was opened and closed with no speakers.
  • The council voted to enter executive session to discuss a settlement, with a plan to reconvene for public comment at 7:20 PM.
  • The discussion on the BID representative selection process will be revisited in September with a staff recommendation.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to the July 2026 committee of the whole meeting. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Mayor Raymond Serber here. Councilmember Lopez here. Councilmember Tarantino. Here. Council Member Peters. Councilmember Asin Laye. Councilmember Kay. And Councilmember Sturgeon. Here. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. And again, welcome to the July 2026 committee for the whole meeting. Our first two items on the agenda are actually presentations, but before we begin, I just wanted to give a little bit of personal privilege. A shout out to the two interns at the mayor's office, Tahula and Ariana, rising seniors, brilliant Nirishalian women, who are going to be hanging out working in the office, but I think reflective of the over 500 young people that our Parks and Rec team have employed and have working. So if you see the average age in City Hall looking a little lower, it's mostly because we have a lot of young energy in the space. But I just wanted to give them a little bit of a shout out and a plug at this meeting. And now we'll get back to the business at hand. Item number one is our city manager's presentation on the quality of life initiative update. Okay. Thank you. So this is an update. We started this highlighting our quality of life initiatives last July. So this is a year into it. So some of these slides are repetitive, but I think it's worth going over them again. So quality of life, overall well-being of our residents, including our businesses, visitors, clean neighborhoods, safe streets, sufficient transportation, everything everybody wants to have as a resident here in the Roy Shell. Just one thing I always like to highlight is that you know while this growth has strengthened, we've experienced tremendous growth over the last several years. So sanitation, traffic, parking, code enforcement, public safety, and neighborhood maintenance. So with this great development and this vibrancy that we've seen in the last especially last 10 years, it also is uh in you know causing a demand on our services and we have to uh account for that as we go through our mission here. So our mission statement. So uh enhance the quality of life for newer shell community members by providing clean and safe uh accessible public amenities, uh promoting economic vitality and innovation and embracing collaborative civic engagement. We kind of look at two major buckets. There's physical things that we do, and there's there's the humanistic side that we're we also uh look at. So again, this is an update. Last year we highlighted a lot of the major things, and I'm happy to report that we've really either completed or really established these initiatives. Um a lot of things we uh identified last year are downtime downtown police bicycle patrols that was established and it's been very effective. We um started our security patrols and our um facilities in the downtown area, the ITC center, the train station, the new rock garage to increase that presence there, and I think that's been effective. Um we also initiated parking facility enhanced maintenance. Uh we initiated a vacancy registration program that proactively tracks and addresses long-term vacancies. We have a 30% sign-up rate at this moment. Um last year we really hit hard on smoke shop regulations, massage parlor uh uh regulations where we actually were able to that led to the the closing of around 13 establishments. We looked at our plaza, some code refinements to uh increase our you know rules and regulations and our public assembly areas. Uh we had a Vanguard District Public ROM improvement program and we had a lot of elements to that, and uh we'll be talking about that in our next presentation. Uh uh last year, the coming out of the city manager's office and a big effort by our W City Manager. We established our cooling centers, which are in fact in effect today. So we have eight uh cooling centers that are part of our program, and that's been effective and they're being utilized. We increased our properly code enforcement. We started and have implemented some sidewalk and plaza upgrades. There's more to come on that. Soap and water initiative has uh substantially begun.

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