[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6631456,"mediaKeyId","2679810-50131404a637e972a269febe02838336","parentId",2679810,"title","Council adopts climate plan support, approves Con Edison representation and amends capital budget; traffic study funding noted","audioSeconds",695,"startMs",2993310,"endMs",3688820,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679810-50131404a637e972a269febe02838336&start=2993&end=3688","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679810-50131404a637e972a269febe02838336/thumbnail_2993310.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6631456/New-York/Council-adopts-climate-plan-support-approves-Con-Edison-representation-and-amends-capital-budget-traffic-study-funding-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631456-1781cb0cb51ac22632a53729ae9376b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145926&Signature=XzGd9~ixWVRMtSIo6aJvWDXktV-EPn25Ow-qVe99WVIvXfuzZA43vM0Kwtg~YDKlDYX3XC~hPsA0mwzIMHOPB4fz-tmHwNb13HTBft9~VA8zwA3rETDQpUroIZZMTvofGxAxf3CL19HzF5i3xZ3A74boyhSew0zqRTWsI3PpOOOAI5HZYlQ6XkH3WU1tx12sQ3gtBEbGecMJYLsyo4Dq19dMpWDfNL49BgRurTbnwLtesS159aj-VWmAqfcXIWpQiFey4YsOgIbwnGT~MZhdFrg1ZbSfXwlHbOQjHZmx9F2FYQkse0K~uc8RsV4RkMXNiIx6lZsmcRwX10QQls2uCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Rochelle","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The New Rochelle City Council adopted several consent and business items at its March 18 regular meeting, including a resolution backing the 2025 Cleaner Climate Action Plan update, approval to share the cost of outside counsel in a Con Edison rate case, a capital budget amendment and a transfer of Councilmember Martha Lopez's stipend for a youth program. The council also introduced a proposed charter amendment and set a public hearing, and it moved into executive session on pending litigation.

Why it matters: The retained counsel and the climate-resolution support involve countywide and regional issues (energy regulation and climate planning) that could affect utility bills and local implementation. The capital-budget amendment and the traffic-study allocation noted during the meeting have direct implications for downtown traffic and future infrastructure spending.

Votes and key outcomes

- Consent agenda (items 2'8): Adopted by voice vote after a motion and second (moved and seconded for placement and adoption). No opposition was recorded on the audio record. Outcome: approved.

- Item 9 (postponed): Council held separate consideration of item 9 after a question about whether it should be considered with item 13. Councilmembers Peters and Tarantino moved the procedural action that led to postponement; the motion carried by voice vote. Outcome: postponed (action to be taken separately).

- Item 10 (resolution supporting Cleaner Climate Action Plan update): Councilmember Kaye moved and Councilmember Ashan (named on the record) seconded the resolution supporting the 2025 update; the motion was adopted by voice vote. Outcome: approved (resolution supporting the 2025 Cleaner Climate Action Plan update).

- Item 11 (retain outside counsel for Con Edison rate case): The council authorized retaining outside counsel to represent participating Westchester municipalities before the New York Public Service Commission in an upcoming Con Edison rate proceeding. The city will contribute up to $5,000 toward a pooled fee (the total retainer noted on the record was $100,000 to be split among roughly 20 municipalities). The contract will be administered through the municipality identified in the packet (noted on the record as Rye Brook/Rybrook acting as conduit). Stern and Ashanoye (as announced on the record) moved and seconded the action, which passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved (contract retention; city share not to exceed $5,000).

- Item 12 (transfer of Councilmember Martha Lopez's stipend): Council approved a transfer of Lopez's stipend to seed a youth program called \"How Well Do You Know\" for ages roughly 17 to 24. Lopez described partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club and the JCC; the motion to adopt passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved (stipend transfer to support a youth engagement program).

- Item 13 (amendment to the 2025 capital budget): Council adopted the proposed amendment to the 2025 capital budget (ordinance referenced in the packet). Councilmembers Lopez and Kaye moved and seconded the motion; it passed by voice vote. During discussion Councilmember Tarantino sought confirmation that $110,000 would be available for a traffic study on Kings Highway/Main Street; the deputy city manager confirmed on the record that $110,000 is allocated in the referenced project.

- Items 14 and 15 (charter amendment introduction and public hearing): The council introduced a proposed amendment to the City Charter (Article XII, section 127a) related to city liability in certain actions and directed a public hearing on the matter. Item 14 was introduced for first reading and item 15 set the public hearing by motion and voice vote. Outcome: ordinance introduced; public hearing scheduled.

- Executive session: The council voted to adjourn the open meeting and meet in executive session for discussion of pending litigation (motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded). Outcome: executive_session.

Authorities and fiscal details cited on the record

- New York Public Service Commission: referenced in connection with item 11 (Con Edison electric and gas rate case) as the administrative body for the rate proceeding.

- City Charter, Article XII, section 127a: referenced for the proposed amendment introduced in item 14.

- Budget/financial details: A traffic-study allocation of $110,000 was confirmed on the record for the Kings Highway/Main Street project (identified on the packet page noted by Councilmember Tarantino). The Con Edison counsel retainer was presented as $100,000 total, to be shared across roughly 20 municipalities (city share presented as approximately $5,000; actual share may be lower if more municipalities join).

Quotes from the meeting

- On the traffic study allocation: \"It's a hundred and $10,000,\" the deputy city manager confirmed when asked whether the amount would be available for the Kings Highway/Main Street study.

Administrative notes

- Most votes were taken by voice; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were read into the audio record for the items described above.

Ending

Council members closed the open session after the business items and moved into executive session to discuss pending litigation. No final ordinance text for the charter amendment was adopted at the meeting; a public hearing was scheduled for a later date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Rochelle - City Council Meeting - Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The New Rochelle City Council adopted several consent and business items at its March 18 meeting, including support for the 2025 Cleaner Climate Action Plan update, funding to join municipal representation in a Con Edison rate case, and a capital-budget amendment; the council also introduced a charter amendment and moved into executive session.","taxTitle","New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York","taxId",76423,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6631460,"New Rochelle police highlight youth programs, downtown bike unit and public-facing data at March 18 council meeting",2922,68450,2990530,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679810-50131404a637e972a269febe02838336&start=68&end=2990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679810-50131404a637e972a269febe02838336/thumbnail_68450.jpg","/articles/6631460/New-York/New-Rochelle-police-highlight-youth-programs-downtown-bike-unit-and-public-facing-data-at-March-18-council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631460-b245e6e5f34c2b251d62c81e9902637e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145926&Signature=Olp0mTfgRGwmwgnvOckH6WbbVYd-rCeFOmdkWZgeUEJM9n5~V4674AnvjVjdkGtwEWRwMMdmbV8QC-Ek7y93rrDRfvG8MNgloO17e2l9Y42IVB1FG1UJbpG1vLpbRLqPXoJeNBerj7nAI~vyTYHpzefndqxdSlteZafxOVWOZ~gjAwofb-pKDh9oy0PbNOPGT2ARGEnhsPIlK~5lIVHsl4lREAv4wrko1ICvfB7uBAnK4J5TfohbkLxROmYnRwnEMIvafDQ2~00kQMhNO7sQ1U0~lewzkFHXDPoQRrCdwnGL~FVFWYhOHh2VcdkuIZI7pW46AnLv-Cv4zk~sX7mzAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Rochelle Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola and Deputy Commissioner Neil Reynolds briefed the City Council on the department's community engagement work and recent crime trends at the March 18 regular legislative meeting.

Gazzola said the department has emphasized outreach programs, youth mentoring and neighborhood presence as part of a long-running community policing effort that the department now calls \"community engagement.\" He described programs ranging from a 10-week Citizens Police Academy and a six-week \"learn and earn\" summer program for 14- to 17-year-olds to a new youth cadet program and a mentorship initiative with the Boys & Girls Club aimed at older teens and young adults.

The programs are intended both to reduce tensions and to build recruitment pipelines. \"We're...looking at engagement, and we're gonna give our officers credit for the times that they take time to stop their patrol, and just meet and greet, and...have conversations with our community members,\" Gazzola said.

Why it matters: City officials and council members asked specific questions about which neighborhoods and age groups receive the most engagement, how the department measures success and how new units will be deployed in the downtown commercial core. Council members repeatedly pressed for clarity about staffing and hours for a proposed downtown bike unit and for details about who the youth programs serve.

What the department described

- Youth programs: Gazzola said the Citizens Police Academy is a 10-week program and that the department was in about week two of a current cohort with roughly two dozen participants. He described a six-week summer program for 14- to 17-year-olds that the department has run for several years and a two-year youth cadet program for the same age group with 20 to 25 participants who meet about every two weeks. A separate mentorship and career-preparation program for 18- to 24-year-olds is running in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club and a nonprofit funder; Gazzola said the newer cohort is about 24 participants in a 12-week cycle.

- Downtown Bike Unit: The department proposed a small dedicated bike unit to address quality-of-life issues in the downtown Vanguard District and Library Green area. Gazzola said the unit would include three full-time bicycle officers, a likely fourth officer to assist for events or peak need, two beat officers to supplement coverage and a sergeant as supervisor. Staffing would be concentrated in the downtown/Library Green/Bracey House/Monroe University corridor for day, evening and weekend coverage; Gazzola said hours would be responsive to need and subject to change as the unit is evaluated.

- Mobile presence and hub: The department described using a community engagement van for events and a kiosk at the Library Green as a downtown hub where officers can be visible and residents can approach the department in a non-enforcement setting.

- Community partners and programs: Gazzola cited partnerships with Iona University, Monroe College, the Boys & Girls Club, the Youth Bureau (Kelly Johnson), the Clergy Rapid Response Team, and volunteer groups including Build-A-Bed. He credited a city staff member, Melissa Deniz, for social media and public outreach.

Transparency and data

Gazzola noted the department publishes crime and arrest data and civilian complaint and compliment portals on its website. \"We publish that publicly,\" he said, adding that online dashboards include crime mapping and a portal that routes complaints to internal affairs and compliments to commanding officers.

Crime trends discussed

Gazzola told the council that part 1 crimes were lower overall last year compared with the prior year, but that the city was up modestly year-to-date for the first three months. He said the recent increases are concentrated in property crimes and are small in absolute terms: burglaries rose from 12 to 21 incidents (a 75% increase year-over-year in the short span cited), grand larceny of auto rose from eight to 13 incidents (about 62%), and larceny increased by roughly 18 incidents (reported as a 12% rise). He cautioned that percentages can overstate small raw-number changes: \"The percentages seem higher than than they really are,\" Gazzola said. Gazzola also reported arrests were up about 20% and parking tickets had increased.

Council questions and next steps

Council members pressed department leaders on measurement of program success (attendance, participant feedback and community contacts were cited as markers), the unit-selection process for the bike unit (Gazzola said officers were \"hand picked\" by the division commander based on experience), and how the department works with county mental-health and social-service partners for people who are homeless or have behavioral health needs. Gazzola and the city manager said the city is convening service providers and county partners to identify daytime programming and gaps in services for people experiencing housing insecurity.

Ending

Council members thanked Gazzola and Deputy Commissioner Neil Reynolds for the briefing and for the department's outreach work. No council action was taken on the presentation; the discussion closed and the meeting moved on to agenda items.","New Rochelle Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola and Deputy Commissioner Neil Reynolds briefed the City Council on the department's community engagement work and recent crime trends at the March 18 regular legislative meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts climate plan support, approves Con Edison representation and amends capital budget; traffic study funding noted

New Rochelle police highlight youth programs, downtown bike unit and public-facing data at March 18 council meeting