Council adopts climate plan support, approves Con Edison representation and amends capital budget; traffic study funding noted

The New Rochelle City Council adopted several consent and business items at its March 18 regular meeting, including a resolution backing the 2025 Cleaner Climate Action Plan update, approval to share the cost of outside counsel in a Con Edison rate case, a capital budget amendment and a transfer of Councilmember Martha Lopez's stipend for a youth program. The council also introduced a proposed charter amendment and set a public hearing, and it moved into executive session on pending litigation.

Why it matters: The retained counsel and the climate-resolution support involve countywide and regional issues (energy regulation and climate planning) that could affect utility bills and local implementation. The capital-budget amendment and the traffic-study allocation noted during the meeting have direct implications for downtown traffic and future infrastructure spending.

Votes and key outcomes

- Consent agenda (items 2'8): Adopted by voice vote after a motion and second (moved and seconded for placement and adoption). No opposition was recorded on the audio record. Outcome: approved.

- Item 9 (postponed): Council held separate consideration of item 9 after a question about whether it should be considered with item 13. Councilmembers Peters and Tarantino moved the procedural action that led to postponement; the motion carried by voice vote. Outcome: postponed (action to be taken separately).

- Item 10 (resolution supporting Cleaner Climate Action Plan update): Councilmember Kaye moved and Councilmember Ashan (named on the record) seconded the resolution supporting the 2025 update; the motion was adopted by voice vote. Outcome: approved (resolution supporting the 2025 Cleaner Climate Action Plan update).

- Item 11 (retain outside counsel for Con Edison rate case): The council authorized retaining outside counsel to represent participating Westchester municipalities before the New York Public Service Commission in an upcoming Con Edison rate proceeding. The city will contribute up to $5,000 toward a pooled fee (the total retainer noted on the record was $100,000 to be split among roughly 20 municipalities). The contract will be administered through the municipality identified in the packet (noted on the record as Rye Brook/Rybrook acting as conduit). Stern and Ashanoye (as announced on the record) moved and seconded the action, which passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved (contract retention; city share not to exceed $5,000).

- Item 12 (transfer of Councilmember Martha Lopez's stipend): Council approved a transfer of Lopez's stipend to seed a youth program called "How Well Do You Know" for ages roughly 17 to 24. Lopez described partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club and the JCC; the motion to adopt passed by voice vote. Outcome: approved (stipend transfer to support a youth engagement program).

- Item 13 (amendment to the 2025 capital budget): Council adopted the proposed amendment to the 2025 capital budget (ordinance referenced in the packet). Councilmembers Lopez and Kaye moved and seconded the motion; it passed by voice vote. During discussion Councilmember Tarantino sought confirmation that $110,000 would be available for a traffic study on Kings Highway/Main Street; the deputy city manager confirmed on the record that $110,000 is allocated in the referenced project.

- Items 14 and 15 (charter amendment introduction and public hearing): The council introduced a proposed amendment to the City Charter (Article XII, section 127a) related to city liability in certain actions and directed a public hearing on the matter. Item 14 was introduced for first reading and item 15 set the public hearing by motion and voice vote. Outcome: ordinance introduced; public hearing scheduled.

- Executive session: The council voted to adjourn the open meeting and meet in executive session for discussion of pending litigation (motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded). Outcome: executive_session.

Authorities and fiscal details cited on the record

- New York Public Service Commission: referenced in connection with item 11 (Con Edison electric and gas rate case) as the administrative body for the rate proceeding.

- City Charter, Article XII, section 127a: referenced for the proposed amendment introduced in item 14.

- Budget/financial details: A traffic-study allocation of $110,000 was confirmed on the record for the Kings Highway/Main Street project (identified on the packet page noted by Councilmember Tarantino). The Con Edison counsel retainer was presented as $100,000 total, to be shared across roughly 20 municipalities (city share presented as approximately $5,000; actual share may be lower if more municipalities join).

Quotes from the meeting

- On the traffic study allocation: "It's a hundred and $10,000," the deputy city manager confirmed when asked whether the amount would be available for the Kings Highway/Main Street study.

Administrative notes

- Most votes were taken by voice; no roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were read into the audio record for the items described above.

Ending

Council members closed the open session after the business items and moved into executive session to discuss pending litigation. No final ordinance text for the charter amendment was adopted at the meeting; a public hearing was scheduled for a later date.