[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6164832,"mediaKeyId","5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015","parentId",5426502,"title","Committee accepts $4 million for Green-area street safety improvements amid church and community concerns","audioSeconds",8860,"startMs",1940000,"endMs",10800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015&start=1940&end=10800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015/thumbnail_1940000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164832/New-Haven-County/Connecticut/Committee-accepts-4-million-for-Green-area-street-safety-improvements-amid-church-and-community-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164832-aacddf268fa3dd71b5f2427c535c42ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135421&Signature=kErmNCcbGMSicWlcZ77abL8BLNKqv0f0BIc5~cDiISPiEDznS0laj5uzTSqI5mMQOaDVhWoObq1w0rJcb60ChMgrLby1gCK80y92PMq6C1Y8SB9O8XRzNfzG7T38bOpqiG48FzzBetTrD1cjHCM3WwXrVA1TKyqlH~udbLePJmKllmVGpRbYl48K2gN7KmBjE06Evg6Ma2FFqPwOLqPl6AhbhleP2ZbI5UDbwgW69gnIlTOTZmMW0JXyT4lI6t8Ipc~arETnWpSw~AcNxJ2WwOxQ7dNJ-pTwIYvt~QYQHG1rbN2XUOJ-nizUK5hEKl-K92OiDy~knwedidWx29xhRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Haven County, CT","date","2025-07-18T03:16:46Z","article","The City Services and Environmental Policy Committee of the New Haven Board of Alders voted on July 17 to accept a $4,000,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, a pass-through allocation of congressionally directed federal funds, to pay for street-safety upgrades around the New Haven Green.

Justin McCarthy, chief administrative officer, told the committee the money is “a resolution request for acceptance of a state grant of $4,000,000 to pass through from the federal government to improve the street safety around the area of the green.” He said the funds aim to improve pedestrian safety, slow vehicle speeds, bring ADA compliance and better connect the north and south sides of the Green with raised intersections and other traffic-calming measures. City staff said the funding would cover work on Church, College, Chapel, Elm and Temple streets, and that construction could begin in 2026 if the federal and state steps proceed on schedule.

The nut of the debate was not the availability of funds but how the money would be used. Designers presented conceptual drawings showing raised crosswalks, a single vehicle lane “road diet” on Temple Street and new planting/parking layouts. City staff emphasized the work shown is preliminary. “This is not a final design,” the acting city engineer said of the renderings. “We’re continuing the conversations with all of those partners… This is strictly roadway safety because it’s earmarked strictly for roadway safety.”

Representatives of downtown churches and preservation groups urged a slower, more inclusive process before final designs are fixed. Carolyn Cohen, an attorney representing two downtown churches, said the congregations supported accepting the grant but asked the committee to either continue the item or condition approval on a consensus between the churches, the proprietors and city staff. “We think this conceptual design is not safe for the churches. It does not provide safe access for emergency vehicles on Sunday,” Cohen said, citing concerns about turning radii, Sunday parking rules and emergency egress.

Landscape consultants and church leaders also provided illustrated comparisons of “before and after” conditions for Temple Street and argued the proposed layout changes could alter historic sight lines and the Green’s character. The New Haven Preservation Trust and Preservation Connecticut submitted written comments urging that changes affecting the National Historic Landmark be reviewed under federal historic-preservation procedures (Section 106) and that the city take steps to avoid damage to significant elm trees.

City presenters said the improvements must coordinate with several related initiatives downtown, including a state-led bus-rapid-transit (BRT) project and other streetscape work. Staff told the panel there will be additional phases of community engagement timed to design milestones; the city’s timeline for the grant requires obligations within a multi-year window and staff told the committee there is political urgency to secure the funds now so design can proceed.

Members of the Committee said they supported accepting the funding but asked staff to return with a clear public-engagement plan and regular updates to the committee. The motion to accept the grant was approved by the committee; the item will proceed through the Board of Alders for first and second readings as part of the city’s legislative process.

Ending: The committee approved acceptance of the $4,000,000 grant on July 17 and asked for more structured community engagement, coordination with emergency services and clearer design details before construction begins. Staff said conceptual designs will be refined and that construction is likely to start in 2026 if design and contracting milestones are met.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CSEP 7/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Services and Environmental Policy Committee voted July 17 to accept a $4,000,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation — federal congressionally directed spending passed through the state — to fund street-safety and ADA upgrades around the New Haven Green.","taxTitle","New Haven County, Connecticut","taxId",4247,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164811,"Committee approves solar lease projects for parking canopies and landfill; staff to finalize golf-course terms",330,10410000,10740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015&start=10410&end=10740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015/thumbnail_10410000.jpg","/articles/6164811/New-Haven-County/Connecticut/Committee-approves-solar-lease-projects-for-parking-canopies-and-landfill-staff-to-finalize-golf-course-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164811-2fad2c5163c5e080a7069b1b142d2b63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135421&Signature=TIalh4G3hefO7pnPPrPIAba1VdnASarnJxTmdRzKsuNRJbm0Yi1t24rxXkCy9jKlMPzl2BsXFe3D~htdw4A-L4U7xvVLgOOtg43qxPsGnoDnrJo~iT7i336GNv0raIHR~9eYOsNKTztnS43HSgEZqjael67uTU-6F7Xr~T0~MyHQjFXIF43M2aQvQM8jOOhO5VupQj65-YQLZGhvq~tEWBAQEMhGtZVSQWXcLpxV-XEMka2sfjIgypFV2r8raGC-ztNjHKphzA9SlbArHlhWEKSA~luN75jnLVLBehXlDjuodg7Ty3IJ4HR7sTxz19nii6fUSOChawNcYAfNJ8-3pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee approved a group of city solar projects on July 17, authorizing staff to move forward with parking-canopy leases at Bowen Field, East Shore Park and additional parking at Hill Central and to finalize a solar agreement for the municipal golf course. City staff and vendor GreenSkies presented designs for parking-canopy arrays and explained the financial model: the city acts as landlord and receives lease payments from a third-party developer that sells the power into the grid (United Illuminating) or to city meters under state virtual-net-metering rules.

Director of Climate & Sustainability David Winter and GreenSkies’ business-development representative described three canopy projects that staff estimate will yield combined annual lease revenue around $120,000 under current layouts; staff also reported an executed lease for a landfill project that will generate roughly $72,000 a year. Winter said he worked with the parks department to minimize tree loss at canopy sites and that canopy clearances are sufficient for school buses and service vehicles. He added that federal tax-credit timing is constraining: projects must begin construction within the timetable set by federal incentives to qualify for recent production and investment credits.

Committee members pressed for final, itemized revenue figures and for a clarified annual number that includes the golf-course design. Staff agreed to return with final contract language and updated revenue numbers; an amendment added the golf-course project to the package and adjusted the committee language to reflect staff estimates of roughly $120,000 in annual revenue combined for the parking-canopy projects (not including the previously-approved landfill lease of about $72,000).

The committee voted to approve the projects (as amended) and authorized staff to finalize the golf-course contractual details and return with final terms to the Board schedule.

Ending: With committee approval, staff will finalize the golf-course PPA/lease terms, work to preserve trees at canopy locations and move design and procurement forward to meet federal tax-credit deadlines and the state nonresidential solar program requirements.

","The CSEP committee approved solar parking-canopy leases for municipal parking lots and authorized staff to finalize a similar solar plan for the municipal golf course; city staff estimates the canopy leases will generate about $120,000 annually under current layouts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164818,"Workshop: city, police and vendor outline steps to curb sidewalk riding, underage users and parking problems with shared electric scooters",2872,7228000,10100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015&start=7228&end=10100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015/thumbnail_7228000.jpg","/articles/6164818/New-Haven-County/Connecticut/Workshop-city-police-and-vendor-outline-steps-to-curb-sidewalk-riding-underage-users-and-parking-problems-with-shared-electric-scooters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164818-cd383fadf10ad5967f67a15ead286640/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135421&Signature=DxQ-whCJGsrGcVM15x9P5d-x8uHbn7RpE5~MlWqQPp5h8Q0RNhrVu83q3IJZtfHOQ0C5XY31yTFuxO~WqVVXzFqZgdT9IRwrppUr6-As2RJWi75eJ9uzHwgQnRLrLuk9zWSXQ5BOMdDOZ1koH~KfMXjmtF8f3UKGv72e3F1TAuKjHIVDkFSdw0EbIsMJYmcQc0BpPx9mMVKx5HyvAcQBqVLsQqKw4vYe7xtHesABQh0QFy5DXCSs4z3LFWvOsMjwRipb9ou7j46xtXyuflDtT5YboAXHPpAoJGBoW1E6uxQMZjA8r~M--ZfkaoKjwMbVexUm7fH-jzIctntROWq4vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A workshop on July 17 brought the city, the New Haven Police Department and Veo (the scooter operator) before the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee to discuss resident complaints about shared electric scooters.

The session opened with a candid acknowledgement from city operations staff and Veo that the rollout had produced problems. \"We do loud and clear here the concerns and fully acknowledge that the expectations that were set at the committee meeting have not been met,\" a Veo representative said. City staff and the vendor described several technical and operational remedies under way: geofencing to reduce sidewalk riding in specific corridors, tighter ID verification and recurring checks for underage accounts, an expanded set of designated parking corrals and a local operations team tasked with rapid pickup and rebalancing. Staff and the vendor said they have added corral locations, tightened wallet/ payment flows so riders are not inadvertently forced to end rides outside corrals, and were testing reduced end-trip radii (the permitted distance from a corral within which a trip can end) to reduce “drift” caused by GPS inaccuracy.

Police and fire officials participated in the workshop. Fire officials said they review designs for clearance and turning radii and that apparatus have been tested against proposed concepts; the fire chief said the department routinely coordinates with engineering to ensure any new design accommodates emergency access. Police representatives said they would coordinate enforcement and that the vendor has already begun to issue violations and temporary bans for problematic riders.

Alder concerns centered on public-safety threats to pedestrians (especially at night and during busy downtown periods), the visibility and permanence of painted corrals, and whether the city should pause expansion until the vendor demonstrates more reliable technical controls. Several Alders suggested a temporary curfew or stronger enforcement downtown on weekend nights; Veo and city staff said they were prepared to pilot time-based speed restrictions in high-activity areas.

No vote was taken; the session was a workshop. Staff said they will produce a written plan summarizing the vendor changes, geofence rollouts and enforcement protocols and will return to the committee with weekly progress updates until core problems are resolved.

Ending: City staff and Veo pledged near-term changes (expanded corrals, more aggressive ID and underage-account enforcement, reduced end-trip radius testing and improved communications). The committee asked for a written remediation plan and weekly progress updates; members said they would consider further policy action if the technical and enforcement fixes do not reduce incidents of sidewalk riding and unsafe behavior.

","City staff, police and vendor representatives told the committee they are implementing geofencing, stricter ID checks, more parking corrals and enforcement to address rider behavior and sidewalk riding; vendors and staff acknowledged initial rollout shortcomings and promised weekly adjustments and a detailed action plan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164822,"Committee OKs residential permit zone for Gerard Avenue segment after resident testimony",9806,459000,10265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015&start=459&end=10265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015/thumbnail_459000.jpg","/articles/6164822/New-Haven-County/Connecticut/Committee-OKs-residential-permit-zone-for-Gerard-Avenue-segment-after-resident-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164822-dda5c56d39239c64d9973f8e680aadb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135421&Signature=AhTPx9d1wicpvZgPYrvU2aMTHiWp0Wv6WZVg7VNK~Z6AlQeIDOLk-KBFiQ-sgbd98vMmLjmx6y3vnuy8FiIb1yN~eTY~uxddgDABsuQj7D5ttXfV5d5vxDpzbUojnHYTrIFWs2W0p~8hZQhuLUI7jUTGW6r7n0LN4jT-03zdRBv5RZdnR420oN0FoYkhisE6jfQ8Tu7G8FrIqSBW0kYe6Zgd7EH8leQL3XsXTTuFmez-gc7AYvTRDCKEj8N4XUA8dY4apy8WlJadCwuIhQJXcXUBHs8CPNPzKhzQjd7JGW2K3s9PI2ibmvMgsxRMGtYPhbQDX4I4a8pnfyhIxPnjkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of Gerard Avenue asked the committee to designate a permanent residential parking zone to stop repeated long-term parking by airport patrons and other nonresidents. Vivian Honeycutt testified she had collected signatures from neighbors and described cars left for days that hinder emergency access at one house. \"We really need to have permanent parking in our street to make it safe for residents to be able to park,\" Honeycutt told the committee and explained neighbors had tallied more signatures than the minimum required for a petition.

Committee members discussed the recurring pattern of residents requesting residential parking near the airport and said they would consult the city transportation and traffic department about a broader approach for that neighborhood. After an amendment clarifying the zoned segment (Gerard Avenue between Burr Street and Townsend Avenue), the committee approved the residential parking ordinance as amended by voice vote.

Ending: The committee approved the residential parking request for the defined segment and directed staff to coordinate with Transportation, Traffic & Parking on implementation and (separately) to consider a larger permit strategy for the airport-adjacent neighborhoods.

","After resident testimony about airport-related spillover parking and blocked driveways, the CSEP Committee approved a residential parking zone on Gerard Avenue between Burr Street and Townsend Avenue.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6164827,"City committee hears plan to replace permitting software with Granicus; staff seeks multiyear contract",1109,801000,1910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015&start=801&end=1910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5426502-64f8f159127f72435ece002b37c69015/thumbnail_801000.jpg","/articles/6164827/New-Haven-County/Connecticut/City-committee-hears-plan-to-replace-permitting-software-with-Granicus-staff-seeks-multiyear-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164827-a933120fcf80410bd51e289fda555d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135421&Signature=T~9F5Z5NoG442vEMi6XQjzARcxGvuoh-5-STxrFe0ydATZbC9Y6FJBSDn8JfE307JSqZZ1iiONaS0qfVQeFI9o47pikfaowncb4j2YIxcMdgfQveUiOLfGC8-6gwYGXDJ24C3ObzTtxSZzppwfymBhj97Y-zajYZerJSX13B~I0IKOvjC87MY52h9qnPmQZh-Dod2FcLHcRr7wdYLuMYY1SXZv2PumFuB~~xiks3yuLYFL5Di7cw27F-61nV2ok4Wi2h8oJ5rEVid-Bn3fclsWtPteL862KvWbJWUlP0Mc9x6JEsYFv-uGPj57iQigOSxvtX1jsAglbqXkvAR8KykA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rebecca Romara told the City Services and Environmental Policy Committee on July 17 that the city has selected Granicus’ SmartGov solution to replace the current licensing-and-permitting platform.

Romara said the city conducted a competitive RFP with more than 20 responders, narrowed that list for demonstration to four and then two finalists. After staff and end-user presentations, Granicus was selected in part because the vendor currently hosts the city’s Legistar and websites. Romara told the committee the initial implementation is mid-year, which makes the contract a multiyear agreement for procurement purposes; after implementation, the software would move to annual licensing and maintenance renewals under the city’s procurement rules. “We do hope to have it up and online for our health renewals, which are in the spring of next year,” Romara said.

Committee members pressed for detail on user testing, integration with existing systems and costs. Romara said first-year implementation (including licensing) “will not exceed $265,000” and will come from capital funds; subsequent annual licensing would be budgeted to the IT contracts line. She told the committee that the chosen product will allow staff to build reports and dashboards without vendor change orders — an explicit cost-savings argument — and that the new system will pre-populate customer fields year-to-year and retain consistent license numbers.

Alders asked about integration with the health department and with City Square (a separate permitting/ payment system). Romara said the health department has participated in requirements and that the new platform will support field reporting and dashboards; she said the LCI system will remain on its current platform for now but could be connected in later phases.

Several Alders suggested a vendor workshop or public demonstration so entrepreneurs and regular users can shape onboarding; Romara said staff had built user feedback into the RFP and that permitting staff participated in finalist demonstrations. The committee did not take action on the contract at the meeting; staff asked that the item be discharged from committee so it can proceed on the Board of Alders schedule and still meet implementation timing.

Ending: Staff will return with final contract terms and implementation schedule; the committee signaled support for the selection but sought more user-facing outreach and a possible workshop before final adoption.

","Deputy CAO Rebecca Romara told the committee the city selected Granicus' SmartGov solution after an RFP and staff requested a multiyear agreement that straddles fiscal years to implement and then revert to annual licensing. Committee members asked about user testing, integration with health and City Square systems and workshop opportunities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee accepts $4 million for Green-area street safety improvements amid church and community concerns

Committee approves solar lease projects for parking canopies and landfill; staff to finalize golf-course terms

Workshop: city, police and vendor outline steps to curb sidewalk riding, underage users and parking problems with shared electric scooters

Committee OKs residential permit zone for Gerard Avenue segment after resident testimony

City committee hears plan to replace permitting software with Granicus; staff seeks multiyear contract