Resident criticizes new block-party permit packet and fee increase; mayor's office says packet is being improved

Karen Kirstein, a longtime Schenectady resident, told the City Council Monday that an administrative change to the block-party/ street-closure permit process has made neighborhood events harder to organize. "This new permit, almost 20 page of confusing forms and documents," Kirstein said, and she added that the fee has effectively increased tenfold: "We are required to pay 50% of what is paid by a citywide festival. Yet, our potluck involves only 30 people." Kirstein said she filed the one-page permit on May 10, was told in mid-August it had not been approved, then was assessed an additional $87 fee and received approval dated Sept. 2 for a Sept. 6 event; she said the timing and cost make small neighborhood gatherings impractical. Kirstein asked the council to create two permit tracks'a simple permit for neighborhood events and a more extensive festival packet for large citywide events'and said the current administrative change could exclude low-income and small neighborhoods from hosting block parties. A mayor's office representative responded during council remarks that the office has been "working to improve" the packet and that the packet "allows all the information up in 1 spot, as opposed to all departments coming, asking the mayor's office, or asking the coordinator." The representative called the effort a work in progress and invited suggestions. Council members acknowledged the complaint during remarks after public comment; development staff and the mayor's office were thanked for their work on block grant allocations and the mayor's office said it appreciates input about permit categories. The meeting transcript does not record a formal policy change or a vote on permit fees during the session; the issue remains an administrative matter the mayor's office said it is working to refine.