[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6093847,"mediaKeyId","2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b","parentId",2845297,"title","Utica council budget hearing highlights retirement costs, past paving overages and questions about audits and grant funds","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6628000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b&start=6628&end=6628","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b/thumbnail_6628000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093847/Utica/Oneida-County/New-York/Utica-council-budget-hearing-highlights-retirement-costs-past-paving-overages-and-questions-about-audits-and-grant-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093847-3c9ed60d55b55ec2267e0d83e6e6d351/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027464&Signature=HOCKvan2T1-jZzLEYuvunDF40WT04SAzmv~wI47fOj0Kkze0EVVfqpojNYcDzqyQqFE8NL55r7NjnUh~Eu90rDktDHhhrFrDm5mKid9wJfzep5yr6AXMKsr8miAiydRY4uP6YLx2V3Js2p59iGv2z0y-THt5dqvjIZwn1LFUF6GBxV2OMz9Vvhx1reyTIDlWeT7tTxLFRrpwhNq9J~1GEW46ftVXZsUn9VE5UBNgQ8WjlZxhGorks0PMxZv7~6xRWDMDSLEO8aaRWzhM3As5r1qLwa0gBNsBeNAKlpK8IjUDMelaNl3vmqc~3soEG60bEOJOaofYLdpTEdv~RAEDJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Utica, NY","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Diane, deputy comptroller, and other finance staff briefed the Utica Common Council on multiple budget and revenue topics, and council members used the session to press for explanations of prior spending and for clarity on forthcoming charges.

Diane said some sizable cost increases are affecting the city’s expenditures, naming retirement and healthcare as pressures that have grown over the prior budget cycle. Council members and staff also discussed a late bill from NYPA tied to LED street‑light financing: Diane said the city discovered an outstanding payment that covered previously installed LED work and required immediate payment, which then triggered budget adjustments for the current year.

Council members repeatedly raised past paving expenditures. One member said the prior administration had overspent by approximately $2 million on paving; finance staff and engineering acknowledged complex multi‑year contracts and that some contract extensions and additional spending have absorbed planned funds. Diane and the engineering staff said they are compiling records about the contract history for council review.

On audits, Diane said the city’s annual financial statement audit remains a necessary expense and that the city may re‑RFP audit services after a long incumbency; she also noted that some audit and subscription lines tend to run over budget during the year because invoices come due on different cycles.

Urban and economic development staff noted uncertainty about federal block‑grant allocations (CDBG, HOME, ESG) while Congress and federal agencies finalize funding, and said the URA’s (Urban Renewal Agency) proceeds and property sales remain constrained by pending legal and procedural steps.

Council members asked for follow‑up on: a clear accounting of retirement and benefit cost increases; the NYPA/LED invoice details and why it was not paid earlier; the paving contract history and any remaining liabilities; and an update on federal grant award levels that will affect CDBG and related programs. No formal votes were recorded in the provided transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Utica Common Council Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting February 25th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors and finance staff discussed rising retirement costs, a late LED‑conversion loan bill, past paving overages and federal grant uncertainty; staff said some revenues and audits will be updated as grants and invoices arrive.","taxTitle","Utica, Oneida County, New York","taxId",3680,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6093851,"Utica engineers and council debate paving strategy after winters and contractor concerns",1361,3299000,4660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b&start=3299&end=4660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b/thumbnail_3299000.jpg","/articles/6093851/Utica/Oneida-County/New-York/Utica-engineers-and-council-debate-paving-strategy-after-winters-and-contractor-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093851-0d2babce31832628f5dbd9c7057af484/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027464&Signature=WTMZkKHyhCnRPVeooA8Q1A0Vfc4dIIr78yeyXdOAzxPtRsPK56NMseI4eamhJuEXz1kjV1U2r36h0iMRQj6WOBMjMIVoLVyZdBrW3D5oo2fxtLoLZzlwa2jPd-5SkoAGJXZ~Db8C0Bt0~f5H5ijWDWx184yKXPxkTWLAOHJwiJdnQrMOxlOQxYiBi8LIh18BkEwo3s4pdaVZHCLbHFgegWjerdO8oay73hRaDmMqR3L8P-MJkWL6jYvIc7ubL6WEiBL8gMgxDs7l4tswokmG0BT4BRtErvvzXdZFClqKLRCFzIlbXLecEw6QJQCAlRuUX7AS79CU-aZAPmFIrFwq7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nick, the city engineer, briefed the Utica Common Council on paving and street‑repair plans and said crews are preparing lists for micropaving, mill‑and‑fill, striping and pothole repair. He described an active season of inspection to capture winter damage and low spots before resurfacing begins.

Engineers said the city is wrestling with a mix of repair options and vendors. Nick described micropave (a cold‑mix resurfacing) as a thinner surface treatment that can avoid visible center seams; he contrasted that with traditional hot‑mix mill‑and‑fill methods and said both have a place depending on whether a road needs a full reconstruction or just a surface renewal. “The micropave will only take off a 2 inch. It’ll only take the top layer off,” he said, noting it can extend life on certain streets for another five to six years.

Council members pressed about recurring failures on recently paved streets and whether the road‑building mix and contractor compliance are to blame. Nick said prior contractors sometimes did not meet the engineering specifications the city expected and that workmanship and materials quality can shorten pavement life. He and councilors discussed inspection and permitting for utility cuts; the city tracks 811 dig‑notifications and inspects contractor backfills but acknowledged it can be difficult to catch substandard backfill before a surface is re‑laid.

The transcript records a charged exchange about past paving contracts and budgets: one council member said the prior administration “overspent by 2,000,000” on paving and asked whether the council could reduce this year’s bond and use repairs to extend pavement life. Nick said he could “do less with less” but warned that cutting capital would mean some streets would not be paved and more repair calls would come to his office.

Officials also discussed permitting coordination with outside utilities (National Grid, the water authority) and long‑running trouble spots such as the roadway adjacent to rail right‑of‑way. Nick said the city inspects utility cuts and can call contractors back under warranty provisions.

No formal vote or ordinance was recorded in the transcript. Council members asked staff to supply more detail on which streets are candidates for micropaving, how warranties/repair obligations will be enforced, and whether using mixed resurfacing strategies could provide longer‑lasting results at lower cost.","City engineers told the council they are balancing mill‑and‑fill and micropaving work and monitoring utility cuts; councilors raised long‑running concerns about rapid road deterioration, contractor mix, and past overspending on paving contracts.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6093856,"Utica parks department outlines budget priorities: trees, playgrounds, pools and staffing strain",543,1942000,2485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b&start=1942&end=2485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b/thumbnail_1942000.jpg","/articles/6093856/Utica/Oneida-County/New-York/Utica-parks-department-outlines-budget-priorities-trees-playgrounds-pools-and-staffing-strain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093856-5d607ef1da6cc34b67427f17845b46d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027464&Signature=je2G3p3Q3b1qqLscqJARmXxd6Zzn9ZSZsDiwhuKQlnhDqksvjTo-p2s9l3ljJI0ubUg5p1oBXPwg8XoCktmO1R84rTMs-aI1VViNGK~Cw9G9VNVcroI0EMmDl0vtSFTFiTIY9jwrvU6b0bwWWM1xTNq3ho5j2tKMD540X2g3c-y3y1vVR6R~U24iO-z8WeAlBz5Uo97wlg~Y0rJXqZFhGZEeguyic-wXZ3cw55izeBSnb04RxNz0k1Qjyuu48mPbQglGGs6tbO2k02Gv~wcC9lGAaRvk3sInBR~HvX5jJRNstU9hcaDpga4e8wWMP2yZf8jQx4h~Hc2oV3Qnqj9KoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parks Superintendent Dave briefed the Utica Common Council on the parks department’s 2025 budget priorities, highlighting routine maintenance and several capital‑adjacent items the department expects to manage in the coming year.

Dave told the council the department’s workload has been steady and that crews have been assisting public works with traffic, parking and snow removal at several city facilities. He reported reopening Valleysomething (Valvialis spelled in the transcript) for the first time in several years and said the department planned to complete other maintenance work this budget year.

Trees and landscaping drew extended questions. The department said it plants roughly 25 to 50 trees per season with city crews; larger canopy trees are used where space allows and smaller trees in constrained locations. Staff said a federal tree grant the department is pursuing could add a much larger planting program — “it was supposed to be 2,000 trees,” the superintendent said, but he noted the grant is federal and “we're not sure, everything’s on hold at this point.” Council members pressed for clarity on whether the department was meeting a council resolution requiring replanting within a year when a city tree is removed; staff said the city attempts replants but watering and staffing limit capacity.

Playgrounds and splash pads remain a maintenance priority. Dave said the department alternates safety surfacing (wood chips) on a multi‑year schedule and trains staff on playground safety certification; splash pads were winterized and contractors provided guidance to limit plumbing issues.

Pools and aquatic facilities drew questions about equipment upgrades. Staff requested funds to replace CO2 systems at two pools and described ongoing mechanical challenges with dehumidification systems in pool buildings.

The parks chief and councilors repeatedly returned to staffing. Dave said the department currently employs 19 people, with some positions assigned to recreation rather than parks, and noted overtime rates rose after a harsh winter. Council members warned the department’s manpower has not increased despite new infrastructure — including the ice rink, skate parks and dog parks — and pushed for a fuller accounting of maintenance demands as more facilities come on line. Dave said he would do “less with less” if bonding or other capital funding were reduced.

No formal vote or policy action was recorded in the transcript. Council members asked for additional follow‑up on tree‑planting targets, staffing needs to maintain new facilities, and projected costs for contracted services such as snow and field maintenance.","Parks staff told council the department will focus on maintenance, a federal tree grant, playground safety surfacing and pool dehumidification; members raised concerns about staffing and long‑term maintenance of new infrastructure.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6093861,"Utica council hears Valley View Golf Course plan to hire staff, replace carts and raise some fees",1520,410000,1930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b&start=410&end=1930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845297-d5bbb5194b8b960ee7771ee232ca933b/thumbnail_410000.jpg","/articles/6093861/Utica/Oneida-County/New-York/Utica-council-hears-Valley-View-Golf-Course-plan-to-hire-staff-replace-carts-and-raise-some-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093861-301f32c78d370690b4deef4479825e61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027464&Signature=fgnRowayHofgSE1FGbPvHOragLu6-o3nL9DmxTLMX-ulLP8ct5wiTReCLDlWazwwEof8JoKn9eY3NtmhlC4~ySyIhUHyyRZNnK-bai7Lik8SCnu8i00DZfffcKVP43F6bQL1HfMaKX9d2HjtH9mLEPc68m0iBgeLqDJTM3odY8xYXk4YCXz7Asyf00qRQiQ5MAjcinFjTBgWNV-iN9kBckJEsXs-iGOvQ2k0BBB3byxCGDVkx9oNlTaY2hBzbgbO0G4a6bAZQebLqBlwejktY9027rYlm1sTPDDgffchGXb5jTIrpUAfLBoDnuxSJ49khFLsqRIKpBP7P6CNJtM5eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike, a representative for the golf commission, told the Utica Common Council that Valley View Golf Course has seen steady growth in play and finances after several years of upgrades. “We started actually owing the general fund almost a hundred thousand dollars,” he said, and added that the course now expects to have “almost a half a million dollars in the bank.”

The commission is proposing to use the improved balance to hire additional staff — including a greenskeeper and more rangers — and to replace part of the golf-cart fleet. Mike said parts of the budget rise reflect those hires and a planned cart lease renewal with E‑Z‑GO. He described the current fleet as aging: the vehicles are now in their fifth year and the commission has been negotiating a new lease. “We have 80 right now, and we're gonna go down to 70,” he said when asked about the number of carts.

Council members pressed on details. Mark asked about membership levels and fees; Mike said full (unlimited) memberships would remain at the current higher tier and that the commission planned modest increases for daily and resident everyday memberships. The commission also told the council it had conservatively budgeted tournament revenue and hoped to regain some events the course lost during construction — “If our tournament season does come back, $50,000 is easily doable for us,” Mike said.

Security and operations were raised repeatedly. Council members and speakers described past thefts and vandalism at the cart storage area; Mike said the storage area is now gated and that the course is adding cameras and exploring alarm systems and a night watchman. Frank Matullo was identified as overseeing security options and “general security.” Mike said staff are considering a 500‑gallon fuel tank for on‑site refueling but have safety and siting concerns.

Council members also asked about the course’s concession and event arrangements. Mike said operator agreements give certain exclusive rights to private operators (cited in discussion as Mr. Longo), which can limit the course’s ability to host third‑party food vendors or run small on‑site concessions during tournaments.

Council members and other speakers repeatedly praised longtime course staff, mentioned plans to refresh the fleet as part of capital planning, and urged clearer timelines for cart delivery and for restoring larger tournaments. No formal council action or vote was recorded on the golf commission budget in the transcript.

The commission’s presentation moved on after council members sought follow‑up on specific line items, and staff said they would return with additional information on lease terms, exact fee schedules and security plans.","Officials described increased play and a stronger fund balance at Valley View, and proposed more staff, replacement carts and modest fee increases; council members pressed for details on leases, security and tournament plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Utica council budget hearing highlights retirement costs, past paving overages and questions about audits and grant funds

Utica engineers and council debate paving strategy after winters and contractor concerns

Utica parks department outlines budget priorities: trees, playgrounds, pools and staffing strain

Utica council hears Valley View Golf Course plan to hire staff, replace carts and raise some fees