Hits: 0

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. November 3, 2014:

Twas the night before election day, November 3, and the Common Council was ready to hold a quick, quiet regular Common Council meeting tonight. Absolutely nothing to worry about or pay attention to, right?

However the agenda contains the following significant items:

The Common Council, on the consent agenda is scheduled at this time to approve the zoning request of Urstadt Biddle to allow apartments and a hotel on the White Plains Pavilion Mall. A public hearing was held on this item and the neighborhood association showed no objection to the zoning, however, the site plan is very nebulous at the present time.

Also on the consent agenda is a bond issue for $757,000 to refurbish three fire stations, Stations 2, 4, and 7.

A water rate increase is being put in for WPCNR believes a third straight year.  According to the Commissioner of Public Works Nicoletti’s letter of explanation, basic  rates would increase 8% and 10% over the last three ranges. Rates for the Excess non-capita schedule would increase 8% over the first six ranges and 10% over the last three ranges. The fee for availability/demand charges would increase by 10%.

Finally, the Tennis Academy reported by WHITE PLAINS WEEK two weeks ago as being on schedule will not open until  apparently sometime after January 15., 2015.

Payment of the first year licensing fee will be increased to $125,000 (from $100,000) will be delayed until January, 2016  “to offset the unexpected higher construction expenses resulting from poor soil conditions at Delfino Park and the loss of revenue as a result of the delayed opening caused by the unexpected construction,” according to a letter included in the backup material from the Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Wayne Bass.

This delay has caused the opening of the facility to be pushed back. The backup material does not give a date when the facility will open specifically in 2015.

Tennis Innovators Academy will pay the city $125,000 for the first year beginning in 2016. They will also enclose two more tennis courts inside the planned bubble for a total of 8. The agreement is extended one year and over the course of the agreement the city will receive an additional $826,647.

The complete agenda is on the city website as well as the backup material from which these nuggets of information were mined.