Yonkers City Council adopts extension of battery storage moratorium and approves grants, contracts and appointments

The Yonkers City Council on Jan. 14, 2025 adopted a package of 16 ordinances, resolutions and appointments, including an extension of a temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems and several grant acceptances for senior and youth services.

The package included a general ordinance extending the temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems in the City of Yonkers, an ordinance granting an appeal related to a self‑storage temporary moratorium, two special ordinances and associated intermunicipal agreements to accept Westchester County grants for senior transportation and senior information-and-assistance services, the acceptance of a Westchester County Youth Bureau grant to fund the Yonkers Social Circus, renewal of professional services contracts for auditing and financial consulting, two settlement resolutions, one planning‑board appointment, and two resolutions scheduling zoning public hearings for Jan. 28, 2025.

Why it matters: The moratorium extension leaves in place a pause on new battery energy storage installations while the city studies the issue; the grants provide short‑term funds to expand senior transportation and outreach and support a youth program. Renewed contracts and settlements affect the city’s fiscal and legal obligations.

Most measures were introduced by the administration or the council, discussed briefly at the Jan. 7 rules committee and then moved to the council floor. Council discussion on most items was limited; no substantive amendments were offered during the stated meeting.

Key outcomes (selected items): - General ordinance extending temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems — adopted (tally recorded in meeting: 6 yes, 0 no). - General ordinance granting an appeal of the self‑storage temporary moratorium (appeal granted) — roll call showed at least one recorded “no” vote; final tally recorded in the roll call was 5 yes, 1 no. - Special ordinance and intermunicipal agreement to accept Westchester County “Community Services for the Elderly” transportation grant — accepted (adopted 6–0); listed amount in the agenda text: $49,689. - Special ordinance and intermunicipal agreement to accept Westchester County “Community Services for the Elderly” information-and-assistance grant — accepted (adopted 6–0); the agenda text contains inconsistent amounts (one summary line lists $74,104, the IMA text referenced $47,104). The council record did not reconcile that discrepancy during the meeting. - Special ordinance to accept a Westchester County Youth Bureau award for the Yonkers Social Circus — accepted (adopted 6–0); agenda summary lists $76,923. - Resolutions approving two settlement payments related to alleged personal‑injury claims — adopted (one listed at $15,000, the other at $20,000; both adopted 6–0). - Renewal of professional services contracts with PKF O’Connor Davies LLP for budget/financial consulting and the city’s independent audit — both adopted 6–0. - Appointment: Advice and consent to appoint Timothy Hodges to the Yonkers Planning Board through 12/31/2027 (appointment adopted 6–0). - Two separate resolutions scheduling public hearings on Jan. 28, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to consider proposed zoning amendments (adopted 6–0).

Council procedural notes and roll calls were conducted by the deputy clerk on each vote. Where the meeting record included a roll call with named responses, the clerk’s tallies were recorded in the minutes. Most votes recorded in the minutes were 6–0; the council’s action on the self‑storage moratorium appeal included a recorded dissent during roll call.

The meeting concluded with the council adopting the full slate of agenda items and adjourning.

Votes at a glance (agenda item number — short description — outcome): 1 — Extend temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems — adopted (6–0). 2 — Grant appeal of self‑storage temporary moratorium — adopted (recorded roll call showed 5–1: one member recorded “no”). 3 — Special ordinance: accept Community Services for the Elderly transportation grant (Westchester County IMA) — adopted (6–0); agenda amount stated $49,689. 4 — Special ordinance: accept Community Services for the Elderly information-and-assistance grant (Westchester County IMA) — adopted (6–0); agenda text contains inconsistent amounts ($74,104 and $47,104 recorded in different parts of the agenda summary). 5 — Special ordinance: accept Westchester County Youth Bureau award for Yonkers Social Circus — adopted (6–0); agenda amount stated $76,923. 6 — Resolution approving IMA for elderly transportation services (correlates to item 3) — adopted (6–0). 7 — Resolution approving IMA for elderly information-and-assistance services (correlates to item 4) — adopted (6–0). 8 — Advice and consent: appoint Timothy Hodges to Planning Board (term to 12/31/2027) — adopted (6–0). 9 — Settlement resolution ($15,000) — adopted (6–0). 10 — Settlement resolution ($20,000) — adopted (6–0). 11 — Renew professional services contract (budget/financial consulting, PKF O’Connor Davies LLP) — adopted (6–0). 12 — Renew professional services contract (independent audit, PKF O’Connor Davies LLP) — adopted (6–0). 13 — Resolution to set public hearing for 01/28/2025, 6:45 p.m., re: rooming houses (Section 43‑165, Code of the City of Yonkers) — adopted (6–0). 14 — Resolution to set public hearing for 01/28/2025, 7:00 p.m., re: amending definition of “family” in zoning code — adopted (6–0). 15 — Resolution recognizing Jan. 20, 2025 as a day of service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. — adopted (6–0). 16 — Resolution appointing/reappointing commissioners of deeds (two‑year terms) — adopted (6–0).

Ending: The council completed its stated meeting and adjourned after adopting the agenda items; no further committee referrals or substantive policy amendments were recorded during the Jan. 14 session.