Peekskill Common Council Work Session and Meeting – May 11, 2026

The Peekskill Common Council convened a work session and regular meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Common Council Chamber at 840 Main Street, Peekskill, New York. All council members were present. Agenda items included an amendment to the employee assistance program agreement, liaison and department reports, a public hearing on proposed cannabis zoning text amendments, seven unanimously adopted resolutions, and a motion to enter executive session.

Work Session – Employee Assistance Program Amendment

• Joanna Duncan presented a proposed amendment to the city's professional service agreement with the Westchester County Employee Assistance Program (WCEAP). The agreement, authorized by the council on April 27, 2026, originally covered only full-time employees; the amendment would extend eligibility to volunteer firefighters at a cost of $22 per volunteer firefighter per year, not to exceed $450, paid from the fire department's budget. Council members had no questions.

Liaison Reports

• Councilman Rigger had no report.
• Councilwoman Chang expressed interest in the upcoming appointment of a new Human Relations Commission (HRC) member and encouraged residents to volunteer for the commission.
• Councilwoman Talbot reported that the Paramount Theatre will welcome two new board members at a meeting the following evening and that the theater continues to perform well.
• Councilman DeGucio announced Youth Bureau events, including a daddy-daughter dance on June 13 at 6 p.m.; a Juneteenth flag raising on June 11 at 6 p.m. at City Hall; a gospel event at Pugsley Park on June 19 at 1 p.m.; and a parade and all-day downtown celebration on June 20 from noon to 7 p.m. He also noted open seats on the Youth Bureau and the Conservation Advisory Council.
• Councilman Hassan reported on the Business Improvement District (BID), noting that the library director discussed the intended move to 41 North Division Street; the Esther Street Market has two remaining weekends (May 16 and 23); the full farmers market begins June 6 with an 11 a.m. ribbon cutting; the flea market continues without concerns; the BID will participate in the Metro-North Grand Central staycation event at Vanderbilt Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and the Peekskill Arts Alliance Open Studios takes place June 6–7. He relayed BID members' concerns about missing no-smoking signs and failing parking meters; Matt Rudikoff responded that the city is working with Passport on a pay-by-plate parking system, with signage ordered and an educational campaign planned. A ribbon cutting was held for new downtown business Yala Mr. Halal on Main Street.
• Deputy Mayor Riley reported on the senior advisory group: a new manager at River Point is getting a handle on operations; a spring thrift sale in Cold Spring, which invited seniors to shop free with vouchers, netted $27,000; lights are now working at Forest View; seniors requested a new fence for the community garden on Route 6; the senior center nutrition program averages between 70 and 80 people daily, prompting two morning bus routes; and a compost giveaway will be held May 16 at DePew Park.
• Mayor McKenzie attended the Cortlandt chamber of commerce breakfast, attended a Westchester Municipal Officials Association executive committee meeting, congratulated the police department and chief on a successful awards ceremony, and thanked the planning department for hosting a dinner for zoning and planning board members.

Department Head and City Manager Reports

• City Manager Jim Alexander reported on the prior two weeks: code enforcement addressed 17 unlicensed vehicle complaints in April; the building and code enforcement divisions will launch an initiative to enforce historic district regulations on signage, lighting, and related requirements; a notice was issued for an outdated fire safety inspection at a multifamily structure; two new compressors were installed at the Paramount; a new garbage truck joined the fleet; and sanitation crews cleaned the downtown business district.
• Police reported 11 arrests for public alcohol consumption and disorderly conduct, 2 DWI arrests, 19 additional traffic-related arrests, 677 parking tickets, and 185 traffic summonses. Enhanced traffic enforcement in response to community complaints on Highland, Highland Park, Riverview, and Central Avenue resulted in 51 traffic details, 41 traffic stops, and 23 summonses. The department also participated in the city court's Law Day mock trial with the high school and hosted a community car seat installation service.
• The city manager met with the police chief and staff about ICE policy training; met with 901 Main regarding new project-based housing vouchers and the deadline for a drawing to fill 21 affordable housing units, as well as facade and parking deck work; met with Chateau Reeve about water and potential development; worked on the new parking system; met with the ambulance corps; began drafting a policy for the sale of city land; had an introductory meeting with a red-light camera vendor; and worked on a sewer grant application for Lower South and DePew Park improvements.

Public Hearing – Cannabis Zoning Text Amendments

• Director of Planning Carol Samol presented the proposed local law amending Section 575-19.2 of the City Code to regulate cannabis dispensaries, consumption sites, and delivery services, regulations in place since November 2022. The changes would remove the C3, WF2, and WF3 zoning districts, which are proximate to residential uses, while facilities would remain allowed in C1, C2, M1, M2, and M2B districts; add a 1,000-foot distancing requirement for dispensaries while retaining existing distances for houses of worship, private schools, and youth facilities; permit state-approved exceptions to the 1,000-foot distance only with a special permit; reduce parking requirements from 1 space per 80 square feet to 1 per 300 square feet; and require applicants to be awarded a state license before receiving a special permit. The Planning Commission issued a positive recommendation without comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A member of the public spoke in favor of the zoning text amendment, expressing support for cannabis businesses as a successful business type downtown and noting that other businesses are interested in vacant retail spaces.
• Y Quasia King, COO of King's House of Fire in Cortlandt Manor, speaking online, clarified that the former Havana on the Hudson space on Brown Street is a private cigar lounge, not a cannabis lounge. She stated that New York State has not yet officially approved cannabis consumption lounges and cautioned the council against adopting local rules on consumption sites before state guidance is issued.
• No members of the public came forward during the Citizens Desiring to Be Heard portion of the meeting.

Key Outcomes

• The council unanimously adopted seven resolutions:
  • J1: Authorized the temporary closure of a portion of North Division Street for a pedestrian walkway and expanded outdoor dining on Fridays from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 2 to 10 p.m., from May 15 through November 1, 2026.
  • J2: Authorized the city manager to appoint Jannette Nolasco to the Human Relations Commission.
  • J3: Amended the April 27, 2026 resolution authorizing the WCEAP professional services agreement to add volunteer firefighters as eligible participants.
  • J4: Authorized the city manager to apply for NYSEFC wastewater planning grant funding.
  • J5: Authorized an engineering services agreement with Barton Legis for dam evaluation to ensure compliance with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation dam safety regulations.
  • J6: Authorized submission of a NY PLAYS grant application for $1,120,000 for playground and restroom improvements at Riverfront Green Park, with $280,000 in matching city funds.
  • J7: Authorized acceptance of a $50,000 Community Crime Prevention Grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for the period May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, to support community-based violence intervention and prevention efforts.
• The council voted unanimously to enter executive session to discuss matters concerning the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person.