The Common Council of Peekskill, New York, held a work session on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Common Council Chamber. The meeting covered the city's 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) plans, finance items, recreation memorandums of understanding, a special permit public hearing, a police contract renewal, and a proposed immigration enforcement policy. The council also moved into executive session at the end of the meeting.
Items and then we'll move on to uh executive session for discussion of matters concerning the medical financial credit or employment history of a particular person or corporation or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person, persons, or corporation. At this time, I'll turn it over to our city manager, Mr. Alexander. Okay. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Good evening. Good evening. Uh tonight we have uh quite a few items on the agenda, but we're going to start off by having Jonathan Zamora talk to us about Peak Skill 250. And that is for the semi-quincentennial, which is 2026, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and our efforts to put together a program for that. Good evening, Council. To be here. Um, so we find ourselves in a unique uh historical moment to educate and uh and celebrate uh the semi-quincentennial uh the founding of our nation to 250th anniversary of the country, and to highlight really uh Peakskill's historical contributions to that role. So we've uh been meeting and uh we have some ideas uh throughout the calendar year that I'll present here. Uh I think you have copies as well, and we can continue that conversation. We do not then we don't have it wasn't included in our package. Oh, I apologize. I do have a PowerPoint. We just put this together as a presentation note for Jonathan to present to you tonight. That's fine. Just wanted to make sure we didn't miss something. Oh no, I can get you copies, of course. Uh so the semi quincentennial highlights the 250th uh celebration of the founding of our country. Peak skill uh with its uh deep roots is to historical ties throughout. Um we've put together a uh after custom conversations uh of some planned activities and events uh to commemorate these to commemorate the the entire year. So uh for January and we have here uh time capsule. While these are all proposed, these are all just kind of working um activities at the moment, and obviously we're reaching out into stakeholders uh to get their feedback and input and uh we'll be meeting later this week as well. Uh so for January a time capsule wall, um placement of poster boards uh and but in city hall and library and other spaces um for residents to answer. What do you hope Peak Skill looks like in 25 years or in 250 years? Going back to a lot of questions, um, you know, looking in historical context, uh where we to know where we're going, we have to understand where we've been. And so I think that's really important. Uh I think everyone does to understand uh that framework. Uh for February, uh a warmth drive or a clothing drive, 250 items donated, uh, coats, blankets, and socks. Um in March, specifically March 23rd, uh, remembering the 17 uh 77 raid, a Fort Hill walk and talk uh with a script of what happened here. Uh obviously the the theme throughout uh this year is uh the 250, so that number is gonna resurface at a number of different times. Uh in April, we can have an oral history booth set up, a phone or camera at a tripod outdoor events and tell us a 60-second Peak Skill story. This is what Peak Skill means for me. And getting some of that feedback, especially in our our our senior uh department uh and recreation. We get to interface uh often with the public and we sort of hear these stories uh from years ago, and we want to really commemorate and celebrate those. Uh service theme, so a community effort, 250 pounds of compost challenge uh in April. We want to try to link together as many uh city departments, groups, boards, and organizations, and loop this in as a complete community effort to celebrate uh the semi-quincentennial, and also highlight some of the things we we have that people either have heard about or want to participate in more. We want to sort of extend invitations to um participate. Uh in May, Memorial Day uh flags for families, uh having resident making flash small flags available. They can put them in their planters in their yard and tag hashtag peak skill 250. We really want to uh generate some buzz and and a common theme that that has been coming up uh from residents is really uh the idea notion of peak skill pride. And when you when you're proud of of where you Peak Skill Pride. Oh, pride. Right. So um, you know, it's kind of like a moniker, uh, but obviously may getting people more involved and and intentional in these things is is very important to kind of drive community building. Uh the heroes of Peakskill poster series. Uh we can feature uh submissions for veterans, first responders, and longtime civic leaders in the city of Peakskill, uh so we can commemorate their contributions and and highlight the importance uh of all of the good work that's been happening.