Yonkers council adds SEQR determination and authorizes federal-aid funding for South Broadway Rehabilitation

The Yonkers City Council voted to add a resolution on the State Environmental Quality Review Act for the South Broadway Rehabilitation project, adopted a negative declaration for that review and approved a resolution authorizing federal-aid funding and appropriation of eligible costs.

Why it matters: The SEQR actions and funding authorization clear procedural steps that allow the South Broadway transportation rehabilitation project to move forward with federal and state-supported financing.

Majority Leader Rubo moved to add to the agenda a resolution to issue a SEQR determination for the South Broadway Rehabilitation project; the motion was seconded and the addendum was added by a 6-0 vote. The council then opened and closed discussion on the SEQR item and adopted a negative declaration by a recorded 6-0 vote.

Later in the agenda the council adopted a resolution authorizing the implementation and funding in the first instance, 100% of federal-aid and state match-eligible costs of the South Broadway Rehabilitation Transportation Federal Aid Project and appropriating funds for those costs; that resolution passed by a 6-0 vote.

During public comment, Jessica Gordon, who identified herself as a community member and said she had worked on the district's project, urged the council to approve the South Broadway allocation and stated, "we'll be applauding loudly when you please approve that 6,250,000.00 on record for the first time." The transcript records no further debate from council members on the funding authorization.

The council recorded the SEQR determinations and the funding authorization as adopted, enabling staff to proceed with planning and federal-aid procedures tied to the project.