Peekskill Common Council Work Session and Regular Meeting - October 26, 2026

The Peekskill Common Council held a work session/committee-of-the-whole followed by a regular meeting on Monday, October 26, 2026, in the Common Council Chamber. The council unanimously adopted 18 resolutions, approved Local Law No. 5 of 2026 overriding the New York State tax cap, and closed public hearings on the tax cap override and the proposed 2027 city budget. The agenda also listed an Italian American Heritage Recognition item, but the transcribed portion of the meeting does not include discussion of that item.

Work Session / Committee of the Whole

• Police Chief Renwick requested council permission to solicit competitive bids for the next phase of the police department locker room renovation: electrical work at 2 Nelson Avenue. Council members expressed support, and the request later became Resolution J-12.
• The City Attorney recommended canceling the continued public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 416 (bikes and parks) because the city is still investigating the status of the waterfront bike path and bicycle access to DePew Park. Council agreed; discussion is expected to resume on November 2, 2026, with a future hearing to be rescheduled.
• City Manager discussed a letter of support for CEEP/Civic Roots Westchester New York Community Trust application, a NY BRICKS grant application of up to $15 million for the old library/neighborhood center/bathrooms, a professional services agreement with Joseph Thompson Architect, and acceptance of a $50,000 Empire State Development incentive for the Community Hub. In response to a council question, the City Manager said the BRICKS grant would be very competitive but the city's scoring was strong; matching funds, if needed, would be factored into the following year's budget.
• Liaison reports included Parks Advisory Board concerns about litter and ongoing bikes-in-parks analysis, holiday park events, and interest in having Sloyd students repair damaged wooden park items; Youth Bureau news of a co-drive and Oct. 30 Girl Scouts Halloween event; a BID board meeting scheduled for Nov. 4; and library board updates including a slight circulation drop, Feb. 3 library advocacy day, reduced staff computers from 34 to 30, and preparations for the new 41 North Division space.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For public comments on agenda items, no one spoke in person or online; two emailed comments were entered into the record.
• During Citizens Desiring to Be Heard, one resident expressed concern that pedestrians do not have the right of way in Peekskill, described a recent near-miss at Washington and Hudson, questioned the safety of right turns on red there, and opposed allowing bikes in parks due to concerns for pedestrians and quiet enjoyment of DePew Park. Officials responded that the Chapter 416 matter will be discussed at the Nov. 2 committee-of-the-whole workshop, a report is planned for Nov. 9, and a public hearing would likely occur on the second Monday in December; residents may also email comments or submit letters to the City Clerk.

Regular Meeting Proceedings and Special Recognition

• The pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence were held. Roll call showed all council members and the Mayor present.
• The council dispensed with the reading of the minutes of October 13, 2026, and accepted them as written.
• Police Chief presented a special recognition: Sergeant Evan Patterson was promoted to Lieutenant. Patterson began with NYPD, later served the Town of Newburgh Police Department, joined Peekskill in 2015, and had served as Emergency Response Team commander for more than three years. He will continue in that role and will also command the Patrol Division. He took the oath of office with family present.

Department Head and City Manager Reports

• Quality-of-life enforcement: store owner litter-related violations rose from 6 to 16; overgrowth violations fell from 6 to 3; overcrowding tickets were zero; fire violations fell from 3 to 0; and nuisance violations rose from 9 to 12.
• Police enforcement over the previous two weeks included 9 quality-of-life arrests, 6 DWI arrests, 13 other traffic arrests, 11 warrant arrests, 226 traffic summonses, and 1,255 parking tickets. At Maple and Hudson, targeted enforcement produced 64 details, 62 stops, and 70 summonses. A stabbing assault on Oct. 17 led to an arrest on Oct. 19.
• DPW is winterizing buildings, procuring downtown holiday lighting, and planning November paving. Under the Momentum Fund, a contract was awarded for structural repairs to James Street and Nelson Avenue garages; DRI construction work includes new crosswalks, and the outside reopening date for Division and Central is Friday, Nov. 6, barring unforeseen issues.
• The Peekskill Plan community visioning survey remains open through early November. The lower South Street sewer line design is 90% complete for the $11.5 million project; Hollow Brook Dam work is on hold for winter; 15 hydrants have been replaced; and the riverfront pump station project is at 90% design.

Public Hearings

• Public Hearing No. 2: Proposed local law to override the NYS tax cap for the 2027 budget. Comptroller Toni Tracy presented the budget at a glance: the 2027 general fund total is $59,551,965, a 3.75% increase over 2026, with a 3.5% tax rate increase and a 3.92% tax levy increase. For a single-family home assessed at $9,732, that is about $107.68 per year, or $8.97 per month. Pension, health insurance, and benefit costs increased by $2.5 million; New York State retirement alone rose 20%; and police/fire retirement is projected at about $5 million, or 8.6% of the general fund, up from 5.8% ten years ago and up 108% since 2020. Tracy noted that 45% of New York cities, 35.5% of villages, and 28.6% of towns are planning tax cap overrides. Scenarios showed that not using $600,000 of restricted firehouse fund balance would raise the levy increase to 6.82%, with a 6.38% rate increase and a $16.37 monthly impact; losing $380,000 due to the prior transfer tax budgeting method would raise the levy increase to 8.63%, with an 8.19% rate increase and a $21 monthly impact. The city is also pursuing PILOT agreements, receiving $3.8 million from a new PILOT in 2026. One emailed comment was entered; no one spoke in the chamber. The hearing was closed.
• Public Hearing No. 3: The 2027 proposed budget. Tracy summarized the same general fund total of $59,551,965, 3.5% tax increase, 3.92% levy increase, and $107.68 annual impact for the average assessed home. One emailed comment was entered; no one spoke in the chamber. The hearing was closed.

Resolutions Adopted

All resolutions passed unanimously.

• J-1: Cancelled the continued Oct. 26 public hearing on Chapter 416 (bikes and parks).
• J-2: Authorized free four-hour holiday parking in downtown garages from Nov. 27, 2026 through Jan. 2, 2027.
• J-3: Authorized Turkey Trot street closures on Nov. 21, 2026, 8:00-9:30 a.m., on Park Street, North Broad Street, Crompond Road, and South Division Street.
• J-4: Authorized a professional services agreement with Joseph Thompson Architect for an economic development plan for the Peekskill Hub and reuse of the Neighborhood Center at 4 Nelson Avenue.
• J-5: Declared certain Fire Department equipment surplus and authorized auction.
• J-6: Authorized Trunk or Treat street closure on Broad Street from Park Street to Sparrow Lane on Oct. 30, 2026, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
• J-7: Accepted an Assistance to Firefighters grant of approximately $206,767.27 for new self-contained breathing apparatus.
• J-8: Authorized sale of the surplus 1996 Pierce Engine to Westchester County for $15,000.
• J-9: Authorized advertising bids for downtown intersection improvements under the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund Award.
• J-10: Adopted the 2027 consolidated fee schedule.
• J-11: Established a handicapped parking space at 1778 Lincoln Terrace.
• J-12: Authorized soliciting bids for police locker room electrical work at 2 Nelson Avenue.
• J-13: Authorized submission of a New York BRICKS program grant application.
• J-14: Authorized the City Manager to sign a letter of support for CEEP's New York Community Trust application, with no financial obligation to the city.
• J-15: Appointed Beth Laschever (listed in the agenda; the resolution text read Beth Lechevre) to the Conservation Advisory Council.
• J-16: Established a no-parking restriction on the southeast side of Montrose Avenue (the agenda spelled it Montross Avenue), 50 feet from its intersection with Maple Avenue.
• J-17: Authorized an agreement with Sloyd for use of city property at 828 Main Street for youth woodworking, boat building, and community maker space.
• J-18: Authorized acceptance of an Empire State Development incentive proposal for a comprehensive development plan to design the adaptive reuse of the vacated Field Library space at 4 Nelson Avenue.

Key Outcomes

• The 2027 budget hearings were closed, and Local Law No. 5 of 2026 was adopted to override the NYS tax cap for the 2027 budget.
• All 18 resolutions on the agenda were adopted unanimously.
• The Chapter 416 bikes-and-parks amendment remains under investigation; the council will discuss it on Nov. 2, 2026, with a future public hearing expected in December.
• The council recognized Lt. Evan Patterson's promotion and accepted the October 13, 2026 minutes.
• The council moved into executive session after the public meeting for discussion of personnel matters.