Peekskill Common Council Work Session - June 1, 2026
Peekskill Common Council Work Session - June 1, 2026
The Peekskill Common Council held a work session on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Common Council Chamber. The meeting featured presentations and discussions on a sculpture donation, a proposed local law regulating e-bikes and scooters, a PILOT agreement for the Children's Village project at 41 N. Division Street, the 2026 Wellness and Nutrition Program contract, potential mountain biking trails in DePew Park, the Youth Bureau's Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program (SRAEP) grant, the Capital Plan, water infrastructure bids, a landscaping agreement extension, prisoner transportation negotiations with Westchester County, and a parking regulation amendment. The council also received liaison reports and set the stage for an executive session.
Discussion Items
- Sculpture Donation (Planning): Peter Erwin, Assistant Director of Planning, presented a proposal from Hudson Valley MOCA to donate a stainless steel sculpture titled "Libre" by Jeff Overly (approx. 6 ft tall). The Arts Council recommended acceptance. Council members expressed approval and discussed potential locations (neighborhood center plaza, riverfront green) and maintenance (polishing). A resolution for acceptance was agreed upon for the next council meeting.
- Local Law for E-bikes and Scooters (Police): Chief Adam Renwick presented a comprehensive plan to address community complaints about e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices. The proposal includes education (schools, parents), enforcement, and a local ordinance. Key recommendations: prohibit sidewalk operation citywide, require obedience to traffic controls, set minimum age (16), mandate helmet use for all riders, impose a 20 mph maximum speed (with possible local reduction), and establish penalties including impoundment for repeat offenders. The council supported the approach and directed staff to finalize a draft law.
- PILOT Agreement – 41 N. Division Street (Planning/Economic Development): Matthew Rudokhoff updated the council on the IDA's approval of a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) for the Children's Village project at the former Workers' Compensation building. The project is a 36,000 sq ft adaptive reuse including the Field Library (nonprofit), and is eligible for historic tax credits requiring private ownership for six years (2028-2034). During that period the property would be tax-exempt anyway, so no revenue loss. An impact fee was negotiated: starts at $33,000/year (2028), with 3% annual escalator for 30 years. Additionally, a $1.8 million momentum grant for parking infrastructure (matching fund for city garage improvements) was noted. The council needs to pass resolutions to authorize the IDA PILOT and the impact fee.
- Wellness and Nutrition Program 2026 Contract (Recreation): Jonathan Zamora presented a contract award of $133,202 from Westchester County (federal and state funds) to support the Cold Supper Program at the senior center. No city match required. Council indicated support; a resolution to enter the contract will follow.
- Mountain Biking in DePew Park (Recreation): Jonathan Zamora introduced a discussion on legalizing mountain biking on natural surface trails in DePew Park, which are currently prohibited. Representatives from the Westchester Mountain Biking Association (John Ford, Meg Sia) and NICA coach Ralph Minko spoke in favor. They sought a trail feasibility study this summer to gather data, emphasizing benefits for youth, families, and safety (alternative to sidewalks). Council members expressed interest, noting existing informal use, and requested information on trail separation and public input. The discussion was preliminary; further study was encouraged.
- Youth Bureau SRAEP Grant: The council reviewed a memo from Daryl Francis regarding the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program. The activity plan includes workshops, work readiness classes, and job placements from June 1 through August 14. A resolution to accept the $32,602 grant (no city match) was requested. Council supported and asked for past participation numbers.
- Capital Plan Review (Finance): Comptroller Tony Tracy presented a preliminary capital plan for FY 2026-2027, covering vehicles, facilities, and infrastructure. Major new items: court building renovations ($7M), police building renovations, Con Edison impound lot acquisition ($1.1M), City Council chamber renovations ($300K), customer service station ($200K), neighborhood center renovations after library move ($5M), youth bureau renovations ($7M), recreation center/pool upgrades ($12M – updated, city working to qualify for NY SWIMS grant), and various sewer/stormwater infrastructure projects (e.g., Lower South Street $11.75M, Phoenix Ave $1.89M). The plan must be approved by July 1; further council input will be gathered at the next work session.
- Water Infrastructure Improvement Bids: A memo from David Rambo requests authorization to put two water main and storage tank replacement projects out for bid, funded by a $3M EFC grant. Council approved moving forward.
- Landscaping Agreement Extension (DPW): Cornell Hammonds requested a one-year extension of the contract with Manzer’s Landscaping for summer planting. Council indicated approval.
- Prisoner Transportation IMA (Police): Chief Renwick reported ongoing negotiations with Westchester County Department of Correction for an intermunicipal agreement. The county would take over transporting inmates to Peekskill City Court, with Peekskill police handling only new remands if county unavailable. Reimbursement for services performed in 2026 is included. Council expressed support.
- Parking Amendment – Welcher Avenue (Police): Chief Renwick proposed changing a 15-minute parking zone at 241 Welcher Avenue (at Washington Street) from all-hours to 6 AM–6 PM daily to improve customer access and reduce unnecessary overnight restrictions. Council concurred.
Liaison Reports & Community Announcements
- Councilman DeGru announced the Pride flag raising at City Hall on Friday, June 5, 6:30 PM (start of Pride month).
- Councilman Passett reported on the Fire Department: 1,467 calls YTD; mutual aid to Cortlandt Manor double-fatality fire; new engine 132 delivery expected July; new rescue vehicle found; boat production underway (housing at Yacht Club); July 4 parade reviewing stand moved; chaplain formalization; and building repairs.
- Councilman Rigger noted the Peekskill Rotary is awaiting city approval to plant a new 9/11 memorial tree (25th anniversary).
- Councilwoman Chang reminded about the comprehensive plan flyers for seniors and the advisory committee meeting.
- Councilwoman McTalbett reported positive Paramount programs and renovations; promoted Open Studios weekend (June 6-7, 12–5 PM) and farmer's market.
- Deputy Mayor Riley mentioned the community closet at Elks Lodge on June 5-6.
Key Outcomes
- The council agreed to place a resolution on the next agenda to accept the sculpture donation.
- The council directed staff to finalize a draft local law on e-bikes and scooters for future adoption.
- The council will prepare resolutions to authorize the IDA PILOT and the impact fee for the 41 N. Division Street project.
- The council supported accepting the Wellness and Nutrition Program contract; a resolution will be brought forward.
- The council endorsed initiating a trail feasibility study for mountain biking in DePew Park.
- The council supported the Youth Bureau’s SRAEP grant and activity plan; a resolution will be prepared.
- The capital plan review will continue at the next work session; council members will provide email feedback.
- The council approved the request to bid water infrastructure projects.
- The council supported the landscaping agreement extension; a resolution will follow.
- The council supported the prisoner transportation IMA negotiations and the parking amendment; resolutions will be prepared.
- The meeting was adjourned to executive session for discussion of personnel and financial matters.
Meeting Transcript
So good evening, everyone, and welcome to our committee of the committee of the whole meeting for today, June 1st, 2026. We have three presentations this evening and then on to uh our regular agenda with a number of items and an executive session for discussion of matters concerning the medical financial credit or employment history of a particular person, persons, or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person, persons, or corporation. So at this time I will turn it over to our city manager, Mr. Alexander. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Good evening. Uh first up tonight we have a presentation from children's village. And I think uh we're gonna have to wait for that. So we'll put that a next item and we'll go ahead and we'll ask Peter Irwin to talk to us about uh sculpture donation. Can I share my screen, Matt? It's a free thing. Call on me. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Good evening. The Peak Skill Arts Council held their quarterly meeting this morning, and so I have a few updates from that, and uh one of which would require a resolution by the Common Council if you feel comfortable with that at the end of this presentation. Um but first I just wanted to mention that we would we will be celebrating the uh opening and completion of the DRI funded enlightened Peak Skill Initiative uh public art during the week of uh June 25th through 28th, which corresponds with upstate art weekend, which we're proud to participate in. And so there are a number of events that are being um held by Hudson Valley Mocha and the Peak Scale Arts Alliance, our partners, and so those are up on the screen uh just briefly now. And um I know you already have this, but just wanted to uh distribute these flyers if you don't mind it. Um secondly um I am excited to preview that um we've been working with uh pause right that we've been working um with an applicant on um hosting theater in Pugsley Park this summer, which is the will be the first um effort by the Peak Scale Arts Council to work with performing arts and um we've been working with the Parks Department and Jonathan on setting this up and uh we'll be um disseminating more information soon, but encourage you to hold the date in mind, July 25th. We'll have uh theater performance in Pugsley Park, which would be free uh to everyone in a nice family event. And uh lastly, Hudson Valley Mocha has uh offered to donate to the city a sculpture entitled Libre by the artist Jeff Overly, and it's pictured here, and the Arts Council met to discuss uh the merits of this artwork, and they voted to recommend that the Common Council authorize accepting this donation. Um I can tell you a little bit about the work. It's um just over six feet tall, in case you can't sort of get the scale from that photograph. It's stainless steel polished with like a chrome finish. Um we understand that it's very durable uh in and is capable of being the exhibited outdoors. Certainly some maintenance is gonna be required on this to uh maintain its polish. Uh it could also be exhibited indoors. I've suggested a couple of locations on the right side of this slide, one of which is uh under construction now, but as we open up the new uh public spaces through the DRI, it might be a nice opportunity to exhibit at least temporarily some of the artwork that we're acquiring. Um it's a it's a valuable piece. We'd really be honored to um accept it. And if you agree, we'll have a resolution at next week's common council meeting to authorize the Peak Skill Arts Council to go forward with this. Questions, comments, council? I think I really like the piece. Um we'd have to really figure out where it goes. I think it's a it's pretty much a human scale item, so I'm not sure it would work down in Brown Plaza, but maybe temporarily there till we get something else. Um but I like it. I I also like it very much. Uh and that was my first thought too. It needs to be on a pedestal. Yeah. Some kind, you know, maybe a three-foot pedestal or something. A square. And I'm wondering, are we are we borrowing this for a certain period of time, or are we actually just taking complete ownership forever? This is meant to be a permanent donation. And we actually uh as a city now have title to a couple dozen sculptures, and one of the reasons the Peak Skill Arts Council was requested to be established by the common council is to figure out ways of maintaining this collection, and uh that's definitely a work in progress. Um but we do have guidelines uh around that and uh we have been working on some ways of fundraising as a as a council around the maintenance issues, uh which I'll have to come back to the council with at a later meeting, but we do have some ideas about that. And when it has to be I mean it has to keep up the polish. Does that just take a cloth and shine it up or there is there? Yes, unless it's damaged in another way. Um it's stainless steel.
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