The Peekskill Common Council held a work session on September 8, 2026, receiving presentations on the Downtown Revitalization Fund and Round III, a source-water protection grant partnership with the Town of Putnam Valley, and DePew Park trail stewardship and mountain biking. Staff also discussed senior nutrition funding, a watershed grant, annual water bids, a chemical spill report, the 418 N. Division Street special permit, a DePew forest inventory, and proposed amendments to Chapters 416 and 182. No formal votes were taken; staff were directed to prepare resolutions for upcoming meetings.
2026. We have three presentations as well as an agenda of about seven items. Oh, sorry, ten items. Um nine items, and then executive session for discussions 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 corporations. Just want to uh make note that Deputy Mayor Riley is uh way, and Councilwoman Tablet is on by Zoom as she's not feeling well this evening. So at this time I will turn it over to our city manager, Ms. Alexander. Okay, good evening, Mayor and Council. Good evening. Uh we have a it looks like a light agenda, but it is not. So uh we have a few items to talk to you about. And first off, uh I've asked Carol and her team to come talk to us about the DRF and which is part of the DRI and what the city has planned for us. Good evening, Mayor, Councils and Hey Peaceville. This is Darrell Francis here at the City of Peace Go Youth Bureau. I want to talk to you today about our fall program that we're launching September 8th of 2026. So we go inside, we'll see some of what we have done in the upgrades and things that are happening here in this building. As we move up to the activity center room, you'll see we have a huge space here, and we're getting ready for our fall programs where we have our tables for our kids for their laptops and the things they could do. We have here we'll have workshops, homework assistance, STEM programs. We have a dry racer table that's over there on the side over there. And we have right here is our learner center where we're gonna put up our new screen TV that'll be touch screen for the kids to go through different programming and different activities. That we have a nice computer lab that is being input. That we have about six computers, state of the arts that kids will be able to go on the internet, they'll be able to do research for their papers with a color printer. We'll also be having a 3D printer back there as well. So this you're watching the City of Peakskill government channel. Um and the goal of the the DRF is really to enhance the experience of everyone in the DRI area through streetscape, business promotion and growth, attracting new tenants, shoppers, residents, and owners. And as a reminder, uh the DRF program provides up to 90% of the funding for improvements. Um that means that 10% has to come at least, 10% has to come from the business owner or property owner, um or herself. And this is this is also a reimbursable program, so all of the cash outlay has to come from the business owner or the property owner uh first, and then they get reimbursed from the state. Sometimes that's a hurdle uh for folks, but it's very important to know that up front. Um eligible applicants include property owners and owners of for-profit and not-for-profit businesses that are located in the DRI area. And there's a map of the DRI area, um, although we're all pretty familiar with it at this time, but there's a map of that on our web page. I've provided a link here, and we'll continue to to share that. So far, we've awarded 16 projects up to 567,000 dollars over rounds one and two. Um, and we have a small um pot of money that remains to be awarded. Um, and we'd like to open that up for round three. It's about 62, almost 63,000, uh, which I think could be meaningful. You'll see some of the projects have been smaller, but we could also do a larger project um, which uh you know we have seen over the over the three rounds. The um if we were to go into a round three, uh the GRF administrative plan, which is approved by the state and the city remains in effect. So those guiding documents, excuse me, the project review committee, um, which is is listed here as well. Uh, we'll review the applications, make recommendations, the we'll present those to the council. Ultimately, the state, um DHCR, um, and the housing trust fund corporation are the ones who make the final selection. So round three, if we were to do this is outreach and info session. We where we've already scheduled and held time with uh Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce and the bid uh to uh co-sponsor with us and uh uh info session on the 23rd at 6 p.m. So we've already got that in place. Applications would be open the 15th of September through October 9th. The 15th, of course, is the day after the council meeting. Uh we would make selections by the end of October and present them to the council. Um, and as a reminder, the application form is on the web page, but we'll also provide an updated web page with more detailed information. For those at home, um, just as a reminder, also, you know, the scoring criteria is you know, is is listed. There are a number of of um elements, visually prominent things that improve the aesthetics of the district, have a catalytic effect and are transformative.