Batavia City Council approves rezoning, Home Rule requests, cybersecurity IMA and multiple budget amendments

The City of Batavia City Council on April 27, 2026, unanimously approved a package of resolutions and ordinances touching zoning, intergovernmental agreements, school safety and budget amendments. Council President Jankowski presided over the special business meeting, which began at 6:51 p.m. and adjourned at 7:34 p.m.

The council adopted Ordinance No. 2-2026 to rezone three parcels at 26, 60 and 18–22 Evans Street from C-2 (General Commercial) to C-3 (Central Commercial). Councilmember McGinnis moved the ordinance, which Councilmember Schmidt seconded; the motion passed on an 8-0 roll call. The ordinance text in the minutes includes legal descriptions and tax parcel identifiers for each property and states the amendment takes effect immediately.

In a linked Home Rule resolution, the council approved requests asking the New York State Legislature to enact S.9157/A.10228 to authorize the City to impose a hotel and motel occupancy tax of up to 3 percent and to support amended legislation (A.6916A/S.6421A) allowing the alienation of certain parkland so the municipal parking lot and the historic Brisbane Mansion may be separated from the remaining portion of tax map parcel 84.010-4-1. Councilmember Viele moved the Home Rule resolution; Councilmember McGinnis seconded and the motion passed 8-0. The City Clerk was authorized to send copies of the Home Rule message to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Stephen Hawley.

On public-safety and intergovernmental matters, the council authorized two agreements. Councilperson McGinnis moved to authorize the Council President to sign a partnership agreement with the Batavia City School District to provide a School Violence Prevention Program; Councilperson DiSalvo seconded and the motion carried 8-0. Separately, the council authorized the Council President to enter a three-year intergovernmental agreement with the New York State Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to deploy CrowdStrike endpoint protection, which New York State offers to municipalities at no charge. That motion was made by Councilmember Twichell, seconded by Councilmember Viele, and approved 8-0.

The council also approved two budget-related amendments. Councilperson Twichell moved a 2026–2027 budget amendment to purchase Lexipol policy-management services for local government, allocating $4,400.65 to Administrative Services Contract Services, $2,200.33 to Sewer Admin Contract Services and $2,200.32 to Water Admin Contract Services while reducing the corresponding contingency accounts by the same amounts; Councilperson Briggs seconded and the vote was 8-0. Councilmember Schmidt moved that the City participate in an update to the Genesee County Central Corridor Study; the total study cost is $67,000 and the City’s share is $6,700 (10%); Councilmember DiSalvo seconded and the motion passed 8-0, with a budget amendment authorized to account for the City’s contribution. The resolution names LaBella Associates and Passero Associates as the firms identified to provide professional services for the study.

Procedural action: the council approved a motion by Councilmember Viele, seconded by Councilmember Briggs, to enter executive session under New York Public Officers Law Article 7, Section 105(1)(f) (personnel/employee matters) and (1)(h) (proposed acquisition/sale/lease of real property where publicity would substantially affect value); the minutes record the council entering executive session at 6:57 p.m. and exiting at 7:33 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m.; minutes were submitted by Clerk-Treasurer Heidi J Parker.

What this means: the rezoning clears the way for downtown, mixed-use development on Evans Street parcels consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and downtown revitalization initiative; Home Rule approvals advance state-level steps needed for a local hotel/motel occupancy tax and for legislation to permit parkland alienation related to the Brisbane Mansion and municipal parking lot; the CrowdStrike IMA will provide state-supported endpoint monitoring for city systems; and the budget amendments fund citywide policy-management software and the City’s share of a regional transportation study. Where the minutes do not record debate, the votes were unanimous 8-0 and no amendments or dissent are noted.