[Roll Call]
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THROUGH GEL PITCHERS. EVERYBODY PUT THE PITCHER ON THERE. SO WHEN SOMEBODY COMES. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET GOING. WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. GEORGE. WE ALL SET? WELCOME BACK. GEORGE LATE. IT'S ONLY TWO AFTER. I'LL PICK UP THE PACE HERE. ALL RIGHT, MIKE, YOU WANT TO DO ROLL CALL FOR ME?
[Dockets]
WE'RE GOOD, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE DOCKETS. ONE ZERO 26. THIS COMES FROM A REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. APPROVAL OF GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY AND UTICA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. AND WE HAVE. ANDREW IS HERE. HI, ANDREA. HI. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS $100,000. ANDREA, COULD YOU STEP UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE? I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE QUESTIONS FROM LEGISLATORS. SO THIS IS ONE ZERO 26 QUESTIONS ON THIS DOCKET. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREA? GO AHEAD. HI, ANDREA. WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED ALL OF US AS HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH THE STORE, THE COST OF FOOD GOING UP. HOW HAS THE COST FOR FEEDING THE ANIMALS GONE UP IN THE LAST THREE FOUR YEARS? TWO SIGNIFICANT AREAS ARE RODENTS.SO THE LABORATORY PRODUCED ANIMALS THAT WE FEED OUR ANIMALS RATS, MICE, ETC. HAS GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY AND PRODUCE HAS BEEN OUR OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEM ALONG WITH HAY AND GRAIN. SO I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S SIGNIFICANT. IT'S EASILY MORE THAN 20%. WOW. THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. IT MIGHT BE OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST KNOW THAT THE ZOO IS SUCH A GREAT ASSET AND THAT THE COSTS KEEP GOING UP FOR YOU, AND THAT'S ONE AREA THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SOMETIMES. WELL, ANY OTHER IDEAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR BUDGET KEEPS GOING UP EVERY YEAR JUST TO STAY EVEN. IT TRULY DOES. I WILL SAY THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST THAT WE'VE MADE WAS SPECIFIC FOR SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE THAT WERE PHYSICAL PLANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, NOT PART OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET DAILY TO GET ACCREDITED WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, WHICH THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN GENERAL TO THE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ANTHONY PICENTE, AND TO ALL OF YOU, THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS. AND WE DID ACCOMPLISH AND SOME OF YOU EVEN SENT CARDS AND NOTES AND STOPPED ME IN STORES TO SAY, CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR A CITY OUR SIZE AND A COUNTY OUR SIZE. TO HAVE AN AZA ACCREDITED ZOO, THERE'S ONLY 234 IN THE WORLD THAT ARE ACCREDITED, AND WE'RE ONE OF THEM. BUT TO GET ACCREDITATION EVERY FIVE YEARS, THERE'S AN INSPECTION. AND THERE WERE SOME AREAS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY ISSUES, SAFETY FOR THE PUBLIC, OUR STAFF AND THE ANIMALS THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS.
THINGS LIKE FENCING, PAVING, SPECIFIC TREE REMOVAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS EXTRA REQUEST THAT WE MADE WAS FOR WAS THOSE PHYSICAL PLANT. AND THEN IT'S NICE TO BE ACCREDITED, BUT THE ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT IS TO BE PERMITTED BY USDA. AND THE THINGS THAT WE FIXED ADDRESSED USDA REQUIREMENTS AS WELL. AND EVERY AND ALL THE OPERATING COSTS ARE GOING UP TO YOUR POINT. THAT IS TRUE. I CAN REMEMBER 15 YEARS AGO BEFORE YOU WERE THE HEAD OF IT THERE, THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES JUST FOR OPERATING BUDGET, LET ALONE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. AND YOU'VE DONE SOME NICE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE WAY NOW IN THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. SO VERY GOOD TO SEE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM GO AHEAD? ANDREA, WE JUST DISCUSSED THAT YOU MADE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR COSTS DOWN. MAYBE YOU COULD SHARE THEM WITH THE BOARD SO THAT THEY REALIZE THAT YOU ARE MAKING THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO MAKE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT QUICK OPPORTUNITY. SO I'VE BEEN AT THE UTICA ZOO SINCE 2011.
IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND I JUST ENJOY IT SO, SO MUCH. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. WE JUST HAD OUR AUDIT DONE FOR 2024, 2024, AND FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WE WILL OR 2023 RATHER, I'M SORRY, BUT GOING INTO 2024 FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WE KNOW OUR YEAR END FINANCIALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEFICIT FOR 2024. WE'VE NOT HAD THAT IN THE PAST. AND I EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A NOT FOR PROFIT, WE VERY MUCH RUN OURSELVES LIKE A BUSINESS TO HAVE A BLACK BOTTOM LINE. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, OUR BUDGETS GOING TO BE ABOUT $200,000, AND WE DID MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO TAKE SOME OF OUR FULL TIME, YEAR ROUND POSITIONS AND MAKE THEM SEASONAL, FULL TIME. SO WE DID HAVE A FEW PEOPLE THAT WE LAID OFF. AS OF JANUARY 1ST. THE POSITIONS WILL OPEN BACK UP FOR APRIL 1ST, AND THEN THEY'LL GO THROUGH OCTOBER, MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER,
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AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO GO SEASONAL AGAIN. SO IT WAS ONE ZOOKEEPER, TWO EDUCATORS AND TWO FACILITIES FOLKS THAT DID GO FROM FULL TIME TO PART TIME, BUT WE HAD TO JUST MAKE IT SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BALANCE OUR BUDGET IN A MORE RESPONSIBLE WAY. WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE AND LOOK AT WAYS TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE AND INCREASE OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. ADMISSION, FOR INSTANCE, IS OUR BIGGEST YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT YOU WOULD THINK WE WANT AT THE ZOO AND IT IS WHAT WE WANT AT THE ZOO. MORE PEOPLE COMING. ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS? SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE. I LIKE HEARING THAT. THAT'S I TRULY AM.I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. THE LAST TIME YOU RECEIVED A ZOOLOGICAL ACCREDITATION, I THINK YOU CAME TO US IN IN 2018, WE GAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL BEYOND THE NORMAL REQUIRED 300,000.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO AND THAT WAS THE MODEL WE USED THIS TIME. SO FOR 2018 WE WORKED ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT. PRIOR TO THAT A ZOOLOGICAL OR THAT INSPECTION FOR AZA. AND WE DID ASK FOR AN EXTRA 300,000 FOR THAT PURPOSE TO BECOME ACCREDITED. AND WE ACTUALLY DID THE SAME THING THIS TIME. WE STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 2023 TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO BECOME ACCREDITED IN 2024. IT'S COMING UP AGAIN. COULD WE HAVE THAT EXTRA 300,000 TO HELP US GET ACCREDITED? AND INTERESTINGLY, THAT IS ABOUT WHAT OUR WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS CONTRACT IS FOR 100,000. WE ARE GOING TO BE IN DEFICIT FOR ABOUT 200,000 THIS YEAR. AND SURE ENOUGH, IT COST US ABOUT 300,000 TO GET ACCREDITED AGAIN, THOSE. SO THE EXPENSES I MENTIONED PAVING, FENCING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, STAIN ALONE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE SPENT ON STAIN, BUT IF YOU HAVE NON STAINED FENCES, THE INSPECTION TEAM LOOKS AT YOU AND SAYS IF SOMETHING THIS FAST FORWARDING TO OUR VISITORS HAS RUST OR MISSING STAIN, WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES? SO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING NEEDS TO LOOK PRISTINE THROUGHOUT THE ZOO. SO THOSE TYPES OF EXPENSES.
SURE ENOUGH, JUST AS IN 2018, THEY CAME TO ABOUT 300,000. WE HAD TO SPEND THAT MONEY. IT TOOK AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, OPERATING. WE HAVE A LINE OF CREDIT BALANCE RIGHT NOW THAT WE NEED TO PAY OFF. SO IT'S ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF OUR DEFICIT IS WHAT IT COST US. THE 300,000 LESS, THE 100,000 THAT YOU'RE COMING FORWARD WITH IN THIS CONTRACT THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR. IT'S A IT GOES TO SHOW THAT PROBABLY EVERY FIVE YEARS THERE'LL BE AN INCREASE BECAUSE OF INCREASE IN PRICES.
BUT ABOUT EVERY FIVE YEARS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INVEST IN THE ZOO, TO KEEP US THE WAY WE NEED TO BE. FOR AZA AND USDA ACCREDITATION, ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PAYROLL WITH YOUR RECENT CUTS? I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A STRUGGLE BECAUSE THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW FOR 2024 DOES INDEED RELATE TO CASH FLOW. SO I'M LOOKING A LITTLE WORSE FOR THE WEAR LATELY BECAUSE I'M LOSING A LITTLE SLEEP EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY BECAUSE THE PAYROLLS THAT NEXT MORNING, WINTER IS TOUGH. WE BRING IN ABOUT 70% OF OUR REVENUE BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER. AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS PAST WEEKEND, THIS IS A HORRIBLE DOLLAR AMOUNT TO TELL YOU. BUT THIS PAST WEEKEND IT WAS COLD. IT WAS SNOWY. IT WAS BLUSTERY. I LOOKED AT THE DEPOSITS THAT OCCURRED FOR FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND LITERALLY EACH DAY WAS UNDER $100. BECAUSE OUR EXPENSES ARE GREATER IN THE WINTER THAN OUR REVENUE. AND THE REVENUE WAS REALLY INDICATIVE ON THAT DEPOSIT SHEET OF UNDER $100 EACH DAY. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN, INSTEAD OF USING THIS 100 K FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO USE IT TOWARDS FILLING THAT VOID OR NO, YOU NEED IT BECAUSE OF THE USDA. WE ALREADY MADE THE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THESE ARE BILLS IN OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. THERE'S $300,000 WORTH OF BILLS IN OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE FOR ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS WE MADE. AND SO WE WOULD USE THE 100,000 WE ASKED FOR TO PAY OFF THOSE LOCAL VENDORS. THEY'RE ALL LOCAL WHO ARE WAITING FOR US TO PAY THEM FOR THINGS LIKE PAVING, TREE REMOVAL, FENCING, PAINTING. LIKE, YOU REALLY NEED US. WE DO.
AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE PART OF YOU. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE PART OF WHAT MAKES ONEIDA COUNTY GREAT TO VISIT AND LIVE IN. ANY HELP FROM THE STATE. ADDITIONAL HELP WITH GRANTS FROM GRIFFO OR BUTTENSCHON OR ANY OF THOSE. SO INTERESTINGLY, THE ZOO WORLD IN NEW YORK STATE HAS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET CALLED CBG ZOOS, BOTANICAL GARDENS AND AQUARIUMS. YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW THIS, BUT BECAUSE THE STATE WENT FROM THIS GRANTS GATEWAY THING THAT THEY USED TO DO FOR THEIR GRANTS TO THIS NEW SFS, IT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS. AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A RECEIVABLE FROM THE STATE RIGHT NOW FOR ALMOST $300,000. THAT JUST HASN'T BEEN PAID TO US YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE'RE IN THE
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LINE. WE'RE IN THE BUDGET. WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE, IT WAS ABOUT 35,000. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW IT TO 98,000 A YEAR, BUT FOR 2025, THEY CUT US BACK DOWN TO 76,000. I GOT TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST. I GO TO THE ZOO AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. I HAVE YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTERS AND I'VE SEEN YOU THERE BEFORE. I LIKE THE ZOO, I REALLY DO. IT'S AN ASSET, QUALITY OF LIFE. SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE GIFT CENTER AND THE ENTRANCE LOOKS GOOD. IT'S EXCELLENT COMPARED TO WHAT I REMEMBER AS A KID AND NOW AS A GRANDFATHER. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ACCREDITATION. PART OF THE RATIONALE YOU HAD EXPLAINED TO US YEARS AGO WAS TO BE ABLE TO TRADE AND GET MORE ANIMALS AND NEWER. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ANIMALS. SO IT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING WE'RE HEARING OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE ANIMALS THAT WE HAVE ARE OLDER. WE HAVEN'T BEEN GETTING NEW ANIMALS. WE HAVE PLANS FOR SOME REALLY SIGNATURE NEW ANIMALS. THE FUNDING THAT IT TAKES TO BRING THAT IN, TO MAKE A FOUR SEASON BUILDING, TO CARE FOR THEM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AS WELL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE JAZZIEST ANIMALS NEED TO BE INSIDE IN THE WINTER WITH ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND WHY HAVE AN ANIMAL INSIDE IF THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE IT? SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE VIEWING AREA IS ALSO FOUR SEASONS. SO OUR VISITORS AND IF WE COULD MAKE OUR ZOO MORE FOUR SEASON, THAT WOULD BE A HUGE, HUGE BUMP IN EVERYTHING. OUR GREATEST COMPETITOR. I WAS JUST TELLING TIM THIS ON THE WAY IN IS THE WILD ANIMAL PARK IN MADISON COUNTY IN CHITTENANGO AREA. IT'S A FOR PROFIT. IT'S OWNED BY A BUSINESS PERSON, AND HE HAS EVERY SIGNATURE ANIMAL EXCEPT FOR THE RED PANDA, WHICH WE HAVE. AND HE DOESN'T. AND I HOPE HE NEVER GETS ELEPHANTS BECAUSE HE'S NOT LARGE ENOUGH PHYSICAL. AND WE AREN'T EITHER. SO WE WON'T GET ELEPHANTS. BUT WE I WANT US TO HAVE PENGUINS. WE HAVE A HABITAT RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE CONVERTED FOR PENGUINS.AFRICAN PENGUINS. IT WOULD BE AMAZING FOR YEAR ROUND. I THINK IT'D BE A BIG DRAW. WE WANT OUR SIGNATURE ANIMAL IN. OUR MASTER PLAN IS A GIRAFFE. WE HAVE THE PLANS, WE HAVE THE AREA. WE HAVE THE STAFF THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF IT. THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT AN $11 MILLION PROJECT, BUT IT WILL BE DONE WELL, AND IT'LL BE FOUR SEASONS AND IT'LL BRING PEOPLE IN. IT'S OUR SIGNATURE ANIMAL.
SO YES, WE NEED NEW ANIMALS. WE NEED WE DO HAVE FIVE NEW EXHIBITS LINED UP FOR THIS SPRING. SOME OF THEM ARE RETURNING ANIMALS THAT WE'VE HAD. THEY'RE SMALL, BUT IT WILL GET RID OF EMPTY AREAS. AND IT'LL BE A IT'LL BE A STORY THAT WE CAN TELL. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. MIKE. GO AHEAD. YOU'VE HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS. YOU GIVE ME TIME TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING. SHE ALREADY SAID. SO THANK YOU ANDREW. YOU TALK ABOUT AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THE FULL TIME DOWN TO PART TIME. IS THAT GIVING YOU ANY TYPE OF RETENTION ISSUES? BECAUSE ZOOKEEPERS I WOULDN'T THINK ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, PICKING UP PEOPLE OFF THE STREET. IT'S A SPECIALIZED. AND TYPICALLY YOU HAVE TO MOVE HERE TO HAVE THAT. FORTUNATELY, THE LAST PERSON HIRED WAS THE PERSON THAT IN THIS CASE BECAME SEASONAL AND DOES LIVE IN SYRACUSE AND HAD BEEN COMMUTING HERE. SO IF YOU KNOW THAT PERSON WILL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT WE CAN CHAT WITH TO COME BACK FOR THAT APRIL 1ST. BUT THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, RETRAINING OR RE, YOU KNOW, RE ACCLIMATING TO THE ANIMALS WE HAVE IF WE HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE FROM OUT OF THE AREA TO COME IN. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE WHAT I, WHAT I ALSO TOLD THE GROUP WAS MANAGEMENT. WE DID TAKE PAY CUTS BETWEEN 1 AND 6%, 6% OBVIOUSLY BEING THE HIGHEST ME, WE DIDN'T LOSE ANYONE FOR THAT, THANK GOODNESS. BECAUSE THAT'S THE CONCERN TOO IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MANAGING AND REALLY KNOW OUR BUSINESS AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE PEOPLE. SO EVERYONE BOUGHT INTO THAT. BUT WE DID HAVE OUR MARKETING DIRECTOR GO DOWN TO TWO PART TIME, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO BE ON TOP OF, BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOUR BUSINESS IS SLUMPING A LITTLE BIT IS NOT TELL YOUR STORY AS MUCH. SO I'M NOT SURE WE CAN AFFORD FOR THE MARKETING PERSON TO GO PART TIME UNTIL APRIL 1ST, BUT IT'S AN IDEA THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. SO I SAY THAT TO ILLUSTRATE. WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE WORK WITH LESS PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP ON DOING AS MUCH WORK WE'RE DOING WITH LESS PEOPLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD, MIKE. GOOD. STEVE. YEAH. GOOD WORK. QUICK QUESTION. I NOTICED THAT I SEEN THE ETHOS THAT YOU DO A LOT OF OUTSIDE EVENTS LIKE FUNDRAISING EVENTS, DIFFERENT EVENTS, YOU HOST EVENTS. IS THAT ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO EXPLORE? BECAUSE I KNOW IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO COME VISIT THE ZOO, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH POPULATION, SO MANY VISITORS. BUT, I MEAN, IF YOU CAN GET MORE ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATIONS, WHATEVER TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF EVENTS AND IF THAT'S A REVENUE GENERATOR. SO A COUPLE OF REVENUE GENERATORS OF WHAT YOU SPEAK. FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF INSIDE BUILDINGS, BUT THAT NEW VISITOR CENTER THAT YOU SPOKE OF THAT HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR US. AND WE RECEIVED THE FUNDING FOR THAT THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDS. AND SO THAT'S BEEN HUGE. WE ACTUALLY DO RENT THE ZOO AS WELL. AND THERE MAY BE SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS OF
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WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING OURSELVES OUT THERE AS A PLACE THAT SOMEBODY COULD HAVE A WEDDING OR REHEARSAL PARTY, A GRADUATION PARTY. ET CETERA. AND YOU KNOW, THAT DOES FALL ON THE LINE, THAT THERE'S FOR PROFIT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES THAT DO THAT. BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE TWIST TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE ZOO AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOUR REHEARSAL DINNER. SO RENTALS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR BUSINESS PLAN. AND THEN CERTAINLY EVENTS OUR WINE IN THE WILDERNESS WILL BE 25 THIS YEAR. AND BREWFEST WAS 25 LAST YEAR.AND THOSE ARE TWO REALLY LARGE EVENTS. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SWITCH THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT AND INCREASE THE, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT ABOUT THOSE EVENTS. AND THEN WE HAVE A LOT OF KID AND FAMILY EVENTS TOO, AND WE'VE ADDED A FEW. I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SECRET IF IT'S OKAY TO TELL YOU THIS. SO OF COURSE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT DO WE DO DIFFERENTLY. RIGHT. THAT'S THAT DEFINITION THAT YOU DON'T KEEP DOING THINGS THE SAME AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS A TRAVELING EXHIBIT FOR THIS SUMMER. AND IT'S DINOSAURS. AND IT'S TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS OF REALLY AMAZING DINOSAURS. WHY DINOSAURS AT A ZOO? SO WE CAN SHOW THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE CONSERVATION METHODS TO NOT HAVE ANIMALS GO EXTINCT, HERE'S WHAT CAN HAPPEN. AND DINOSAURS ARE EXTINCT. THEY'RE ANIMATRONIC ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, THEY MOVE, THEY MAKE SOUNDS, SOME OF THEM EVEN SPIT WATER, ETC. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING THIS IN.
IT'S $150,000 STARTUP OR, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT. BUT THE COMPANY COMES IN, THEY SET THEM UP, THEY MAINTAIN THEM, THEY WATCH FOR ANY BREAKAGE, AND THEN THEY TAKE THEM DOWN IN SEPTEMBER AND TAKE THEM AWAY. AND THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THAT IS BRINGING IN A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE A NEW JURASSIC PARK MOVIE IS COMING OUT THIS SUMMER. SO WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF LITTLE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL WAYS TO BRING IN MONEY AROUND THIS DINOSAUR EXHIBIT. WE'RE LOOKING NOW FOR SPONSORSHIP FOR THAT SEED MONEY FOR THE 150,000 JUST TO UNDERWRITE IT. BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE WAYS WE CAN BRING PEOPLE IN AND THE RETAIL THAT WE CAN DO, WE CAN SELL PLUSH AND WE CAN DO THINGS WITH OUR EXTRAVAGANZA WITH DINOSAUR EGGS. SO WE'RE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX WE'RE NOT TAKING. I GUESS I WANT TO SAY WE'RE NOT TAKING THIS LYING DOWN. WE HAD A TOUGH YEAR. WE NEED A LOT OF MONEY. WE NEED MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE NOW. BUT WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING BACK AND SAYING, OH, WOE IS US. WE'RE WE'RE BEING AGGRESSIVE. MAYBE IT WOULD BE NICE A YEAR FROM NOW TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE NEW ANIMALS AND HOW YOU'RE DOING AS FAR AS YOUR BUDGET. AND WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR. MR. SCHEIBEL. MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE HIM COME IN. KEITH. WHAT DO YOU THINK? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. AND MAYBE YOURSELF AND A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS TO GIVE US THE REAL GOOD NEWS FROM THE FROM THIS YEAR. I'D BE HAPPY TO.
AND WE'D ALSO LOVE TO HOST AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL ONE AFTERNOON THIS SUMMER FOR ALL OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND WE WOULD JUST LOVE TO HOST AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND HAVE YOU COME ON IN THIS SUMMER FOR A NICE AFTERNOON AND WE'LL GIVE TOURS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. LET'S CALL THE VOTE ON THIS UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. LET'S VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL OF YOU. OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON. ANOTHER REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. 1040, APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY AND ROME GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, INC. AND THIS WAS, I BELIEVE, 50 K FOR A LOT OF DAMAGES SUSTAINED DURING TORNADO. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE, TIM? NO QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED FROM PERSONNEL 1034 APPROVAL OF THE REALLOCATION OF GRADE FOR TEN VARIOUS TITLES. THIS WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE, TO MY UNDERSTANDING. QUESTIONS. MY ONLY QUESTION IS WHAT? WHAT IS THIS GOING TO COST US? HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD THE DIFFERENT ALLOCATIONS ARE YOU ESTIMATING IT TO BE? I CAN GET IT FOR YOU. CAN YOU APPRECIATE IT? AND I'LL SHARE IT WITH WAYS AND MEANS. THANK YOU. LET'S VOTE ON THAT. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. BOARD OF LEGISLATORS, FINAL APPROVAL, ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF MODIFICATIONS TO AG DISTRICTS. RESULTS RESULTING FROM OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD 1143. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE? NO QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? 1146 THIS IS FINAL APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS.
SPECIFICALLY, NUMBER SEVEN INCLUDE THE TOWNS OF DEERFIELD, FLOYD, MARCY, TRENTON, AND THE CITY OF UTICA. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS DOCKET? SINCE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES 1159 APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND HENRY P SMITH POST 24 AMERICAN LEGION
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QUESTIONS COMMITTEE. NO QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES 0896 DFCS. REQUEST APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE CITY OF UTICA, THROUGH ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS DOCKET? SINCE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES DFCS AGAIN. SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF 3 MILLION TO A. 6010 6055 495000 OTHER EXPENSE DFCS. SOCIAL SERVICES I WENT THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE, STEVE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES 0976. TRANSFER OF 3.2 MILLION TO 6010 6141 495000.
OTHER EXPENSES 3.2 MILLION QUESTIONS. COMMITTEE. NO QUESTIONS. STEVE, YOU'RE GOOD WITH THIS. OKAY, LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? THAT CARRIES 1049 FINANCE AMENDING RESOLUTION OF NUMBER 192 OF 2007 TO CHANGE THE DATE ESTABLISHMENT OF REAL LEVY, UNPAID SCHOOL AND VILLAGE TAX DELINQUENT MOHAWK VALLEY WATER AUTHORITY AND ANY TOWN OR COUNTRY WATER SEWER CHARGES, OR ANY MISCELLANEOUS AMOUNT OF TOWN AND COUNTY WARRANTS. ANYTHING.
MIKE, ON THIS COUNTY, THAT COUNTRY. RIGHT? YEAH, I KIND OF I KIND OF KNOW COUNTY COUNTRY.
IT'S CLOSE. IT'S CLOSE. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? THAT CARRIES. LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC WORKS PERSONNEL. 1147. IT'S APPROVAL TO SET THE SALARY OF POSITION TITLE. DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE AT 3:40 A.M. STEP 180 1756. APPROVAL TO SET SALARY OF POSITION TITLED DIRECTOR OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT GRADE 42 M STEP ONE 88,265 AND APPROVAL TO SET THE SALARY OF THE POSITION TITLED DIRECTOR OF OCCUPATION, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AT GRADE 38 M STEP ONE $75,956. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, APPROVAL OF SET SALARY OF THE POSITION TITLE ASSISTANT DISTRICT SUPERVISOR AT GRADE 22 B STEP ONE $49,023. QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS I DO HAVE. I HAVE A QUESTION. MIKE WENT THROUGH YOUR COMMITTEE. CAN WE HAVE A BREAKDOWN ON WHAT THAT INCREASE IS GOING TO COST US? ALSO, MISTER CHAIR OKAY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS GEORGE OKAY WITH THIS.
GO AHEAD. YEAH I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS. BUT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION IS IT'S SHOWING THAT WE'RE COGNIZANT OF SUCCESSION.
BUT SOMETHING THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE. AND THERE'S A THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE ATTENTION TO. BUT I REALLY WELCOME THIS I GIVE MAN A LOT OF CREDIT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIS IDEA OR IF HE WAS JUST FOLLOWING SUIT, BUT IT SHOWS THAT WE'RE THINKING AHEAD AND HOW WE FILL POSITIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. POSITIONS. SO AND THIS RELATES TO THE FACT THAT YOU NEED GOOD, QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS. AND IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN FROM WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENTS, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING. AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WITH UPGRADES. IT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S MONEY WE BELIEVE WELL SPENT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS, GEORGE. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES 1156 PUBLIC WORKS APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO CAPITAL PROJECT H. REC MURNANE FIELD COPY BUILDING, COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING STRUCTURES AND FIELD IMPROVEMENTS. WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE QUESTIONS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT THURSDAY. I DID HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASK THEM, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THEM NOW. I REPLAYED THE VIDEO OF THIS PARTICULAR MEETING, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED AND VIABILITY OF TURF OVER GRASS.
AND ALSO, I KNOW CHAD HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT RUNOFF MITIGATION AND YOU WERE
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SATISFIED WITH A TURF FIELD BEING EVEN BETTER. IT'S BETTER. I'M GOING TO GO TO THE SECOND PART. IT'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS ONE RESOLUTION, RIGHT. AND THIS IS 3.2 MILLION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE WITH OUR CONTROLLER OF $3.2 MILLION. SO MY FIRST LINE OF THOUGHT WAS THE NEED OF THIS. AND THERE IS A NEED. IT IS OUR ASSET AND WE NEED TO SUSTAIN IT AND IMPROVE IT. THE BONDING WAS AN ISSUE FOR ME. NASA PROVIDED A LOT OF INFORMATION IN YOUR STAFF. THERE YOU ARE. I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION AND THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH WITH YOUR STAFF. IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. A COUPLE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. 3.2 MILLION IS GOING OUT TO BOND IN FEBRUARY, AND IT'S A PART OF AN OVERALL, AS YOU EXPLAINED $31 MILLION IN BONDING THAT'S GOING OUT. PART OF IT IS FOR WHAT IS NEW IN BONDING FOR THIS YEAR. AND PART OF IT IS THE RESIDUAL FROM LAST YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T PUT OUT FOR BONDING OF 5 MILLION. AND YOU EXPLAINED A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE, WHICH AGAIN SOLD ME ON SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE ORIGINALLY I WAS BOY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT NOT SUPPORTING IT. I WANTED MONEY TO COME FROM OUR SURPLUS, WHICH IS $69 MILLION. BUT YOU CONVINCED ME YOU DID A GOOD JOB. SO I APPRECIATE IT. SO I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS, ANYBODY ABOUT THE 69 MILLION? LET ME ASK YOU THIS.YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING BECAUSE THAT DEBT SERVICE INTERESTS ME. THE 69 MILLION PART OF IT IS RESERVED AND PART OF IT IS UNRESERVED. WE'RE GOING TO THIS YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO WHAT'S RESTRICTED, COMMITTED, ASSIGNED, RESERVED, UNRESERVED. WE USE THESE RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED. I MISQUOTED TERMS. IT'S NOT RESERVED. IT IS RESERVED. OKAY. THE DEFINITION OF A FUND BALANCE RESERVE IS DEFINED. IT'S NOT RESERVED. IT IS RESTRICTED. SOME OF IT'S COMMITTED. SOME OF IT'S ASSIGNED. BUT CORRECT. IT'S THE FUND BALANCE PORTION OF IT. IN FACT, AT THE END OF 2025, EVERYTHING BUT 7 MILLION IS COMMITTED, ASSIGNED OR PIGEONHOLED FOR A PURPOSE SUCH AS FINANCIAL STABILITY, MEDICARE CHECKS. THAT'S PART OF THE 69 MILLION. IT'S NOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR TAX STABILIZATION. MONEY IS SET ASIDE BEYOND THE 69 MILLION. CORRECT? YEAH, THE 29 STABILITY IS ABOVE. IT'S OVER AND ABOVE THE 69 MILLION. YES. SURE. YOU'RE ON 20, 23, RIGHT? 69 IS TALKING ABOUT 2029. YES. OKAY. WHICH IS NOT FINAL YET. RIGHT NOW THE TOTALLY UNRESTRICTED AT THE END OF 20, THE LAST FINAL ONE WE HAVE. RIGHT. BUT HERE'S 2021. 2023 IS THE SHE'S GOING WITH THE OKAY THAT'S THE NUMBERS. WHAT I GAVE YOU IS PROJECTED OUT AFTER THE BONDING PROJECTED OUT TO 2025. SORRY. SO YOU DID PROVIDE ME WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION. AND YOU YOU EDUCATED ME ON A FEW THINGS AND I DO APPRECIATE IT. STAND UP THERE AND HOLD IT. I THINK WE'RE GOOD. I MIGHT HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. NO. YOU'RE FINE. UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE HAD A QUESTION. MIKE. I'M DONE. THANK YOU. RICK. OKAY, LET'S LET'S VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. 1156 PUBLIC WORKS. THIS IS MURNANE FIELD. THE PROJECT IN THE BONDING THAT'S GOING OUT IN FEBRUARY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? LET'S GO. OH 931 THAT PASSED PUBLIC DEFENDER TODD'S HERE. APPROVAL OF AXON EVIDENCE. JUSTICE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. CRIMINAL DIVISION AND EXON ENTERPRISE INCORPORATED.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE DA ON THIS? SINCE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES ZERO 927 EMERGENCY SERVICES. APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, STATE OF NEW YORK THROUGH ITS DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CAPITAL PROJECT HEG1 37. EMERGENCY SERVICES SH 24 1000 DO S SPP. GRANT QUESTIONS, NO
[00:30:02]
QUESTIONS. CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. THAT CARRIES 1021 EMERGENCY SERVICES. APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? 1109 SHERIFF. SHERIFF COULDN'T BE HERE. HE INFORMED ME HE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT THIS DID GO THROUGH COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY. APPROVAL OF TEMPLATE FOR SPECIAL DETAIL SERVICES TO BE USED BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS SHERIFF OFFICE AND VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES, SCHOOLS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER ENTITIES. AND YOU SEE THERE'S A BUMP UP, A NEEDED BUMP UP FOR PER PER HOUR, I BELIEVE ON THAT.AND WITH EVERYTHING GOING UP, IT IT'S I BELIEVE IT'S JUSTIFIED. AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE THAT USE OUR SERVICE WILL WILL FEEL THAT WAY. ALSO, NO QUESTIONS. CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED TO MOVE ON. NOW WE'RE GOING TO AIRPORT APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER 29 TO MASTER AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND CNS ENGINEERING, INC. QUESTIONS WENT THROUGH AIRPORT. NO QUESTIONS. IT'S CALLED A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THAT CARRIES NO OPPOSITION. 1045 AIRPORT FINAL DOCKET. MIKE, THIS IS A APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER 32, MASTER AGREEMENT FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES BETWEEN ONEIDA COUNTY THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION AND RKS ENGINEERS, INC.
1045 AIRPORT QUESTIONS FOR NO QUESTIONS. LET'S CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR WAYS AND MEANS SINCE THERE ARE NO OTHER BUSINESS. MOTION TO AD
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.