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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. News Comment by John F. Bailey. June 15, 2006: The city published its 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan 2006-2007 Annual Action Plan Recommendations in the Legal Notices last week, a candid, blunt snapshot of the city’s priorities and how it is going to proceed with spending. Herewith, WPCNR looks at the spending in dollars and cents detail on how federal and city funds will be spent on housing, infrastructure, city assets and public programs.
Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will have an opportunity to comment on the City Consolidated Plan at a public hearing June 20 at 7 P.M. in the Common Council Chambers at 255 Main Street.
Let’s take a look at spending:
On 2006-2007 the city is budgeted to spend $34,247,131 in the Action Plan. Of that total, $30,827,638 is city money either through bonds, fees, or cash, and $3,419,493, or 10% is derived from other sources. A total of $3,279,535 is spent on public service organizations, and $6,465,583 on housing initiatives.
Approximately 28% of the $34.2 Million Action Expenditures is devoted to public service organizations and housing initiatives ($3.3 Million to Public Service Organizations and $6.5Million to housing initiatives.)
According to figures taken from the Action Plan figures, of that $3.4 Million in funds from sources outside the city, $2,598,843 consists of Community Development Block Grants, $100,000 from Fannie Mae, $250,000 from the New York State Department of Transportation, $425,000 from NYS CHIPS, and $45,650 from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabled.
Housing.
The city proposes a five-year strategy that aims at developing more affordable housing for a “broader range” of income groups, both building new units and rehabilitating existing units.
The city will distribute $1,459,600 in Community Development Block Grant funds for housing rehabilitation (Administration of those programs is included in the $1.4 Million, and costs $530,000). A total of $108,485 in City Funds go to senior citizen rent subsidies, and the city has eliminated funds for 1st Time Homebuyer Subsidies.
The city will spend an additional $4,897.498 on housing efforts, including $866,000 on code enforcement, made up of $275,000 of city funds and $591,428 of Community Development Block Grant money, and $151,635 on Fair Housing/Human Rights. There is an Affordable Housing Fund (funded by developers) totaling $2,586,000 for construction of new affordable housing commitments.
Economic Development.
The city will spend $11, 350,000 in Economic Development projects a big boost in spending that includes $250,000 in New York State Department of Transportation Money for a Trolley System Study. A sum of $100,000 of Community Development Block Grant money will be spent on “Commercial Rehabilitation” for storefronts and other businesses.
The big bite of $11 Million of city money (in lending) will be spent on building the Longview Avenue garage for the benefit of the city, White Plains Hospital Center and the Sunrise Senior Living facility.
Infrastructure
The Department of Public Works will spend $4,255,935 in Infrastructure improvements all but $250,000 city funded.
The Department of Parking will invest $2.67 Million in rehabbing garages, breaking down as follows: $200G for Municipal Parking, $200,000 on Galleria East and West Sprinklers; $2,050,000 for Galleria East & West Improvements, and $250,000 for a sprinkler system in the Library garage.
Communication Technology
Many citizens have been saying, including this reporter, that the city should communicate with its citizens better. You will be happy to know the city is spending $935,000 of city money to do just that.
They will spend $75,000 to enhance their metropolitan network; $75,000 to replace hardware; $100,000 for Emergency Power systems; $100,000 for Information Systems Security (obviously to stop leaks to the lurking press), $200,000 for Redundant Fiber Routing; $200,000 for a City Phone System Upgrade described as “Second phase of a project to replace the City’s phone system with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) System. VoIP will route internal phone calls over the City’s fiber optic network, resulting in a reduction of outside line charges, as well as increase functionality.”
Last but not least, $185,000 for a Computer Room Upgrade. Perhaps this will get the budget figures out in a more timely manner – or maybe it is to slow it down. Budget figures out of city hall could not be issued at a slower pace. It is great to see they are replacing the abacuses.
$300,000 to Move Traffic.
The Department of Traffic is going to spend a mere $300,000 of city money to make traffic flow smoother by upgrading Mamaroneck Avenue Signalization and Enhanced Video Monitoring.
Public Safety: The Perpetual Upgrade
Now this brings us to Public Safety, which never met a gizmo, a system, a data display, it did not have to have. The White Plains Police do a great job – but they are running out of pockets, buttonholes, beltspace and clip loops on their uniforms to hold all the gadgets. They have more stuff on them than Batman and Robin have in their utillty belts. There are more gizmos coming.
Public Safety will spend $2,660,970 in city funds for systems and technological aids, including $1,000,000 for a Radio System upgrade; $1,043,565 in Fire Prevention Services, $207,675 for a Crime Prevention Services; $120,000 for Records Management enhancements; $100,000 for Mobile Data Terminals; $90,000 for Emergency Generators, and $39,730 for Emergency Generators.
City Buildings
The City will dedicate $1,933, 593 of its own money to maintain its buildings. Here are the lucky beneficiaries: The library will receive $475,000 of renovations to its interior, and $600,000 for a new roof. This on top of the $2 Million plus Trove that opened last year.
The decrepit City Hall Annex, a relic from Mayberry will be redesigned at a cost of $400,000. Why redesign it? Move. The Public Safety Building will spend $200,000 to improve its Access Control. Entrance to the Police HQ is confusing to say the least.
Slater Center maintenance will cost $62,872.
In a most curious item, the White Plains Performing Arts Center, a new building just three years ago is budgeted for $195,721 in City Building Expense. What are they putting in there? WPCNR checked with Paul Wood, the City Executive Officer and Wood said this was for salaries and “maintenance,”
Winbrook will be outfitted with $370,000 in Rehabilitation and Security services from sources outside the city.
Recreation and Parks.
In Recreation and Parks, the city has mapped out a modest $505,000 in improvements to its facilities, by far the largest expenditure is a $125,000 of city money investment in the three year old $7,000,000 Renaissance Plaza Fountain to install a new electrical system.
The reason given for this “upgrade” after three years is the design of the original electrical system according to Jospeh Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, was not waterproof at its contact points, which has caused short-circuits in control of the spray nozzles.
Nicoletti also said in a work session that the city would replace the natural grass square in the Renaissance Plaza Fountain area with artificial turf because the chlorine-treated water mists from the fountain was killing the natural grass.
Some White Plains parks will be augmented with modest increments of cash, all city funded — $40,000 to Delfino Park; $25,000 for the chronicly unhearable Ebersole Ice Rink Public Address System, hopefully; $75,000 for the Kittrell & Turnure Restrooms (you cannot beat those White Plains amenities); $125,000 for the Chatterton Avenue Playground; plus $50,000 in Tibbetts Park Rehabilitation; $25,000 to spruce up the Battle Hill Recreation Room (located in a private condominium); $40,000 for the Mitchell Place Tot Lot.
Public Service Organizations – 11 Organizations Not Funded.
Now we come to Community Development Funds for Public Service Organizations. The Plan notes that it will no longer fund the following programs: Slater Outreach Worker, Slater Center Invest In Kids, Westco Productions (previously granted about $13,000 per year for putting on shows at Slater), Wolverines Football, Family Services of Westchester, Human Development Services, White Plains Community Action Program, Universal GoJu Way of Life,White Plains YMCA, Legal Services of Hudson Valley and the Music Conservatory of Westchester.
Public Service Organizations Funded.
The city will, however, fund the following programs in part with a total of $126,108 in Community Development Block Grants:
* Centro Hispano, $42,080 (double the money of 2004-2005),
* $5,000 for the Developmentally Disabled;
* $13,600 to the Bits N Pieces Day Camp serving 110 youths (Bits N Pieces also receives $57,424 in city funds in addition to its Community Development Funds);
*$12,000 in Day Camp Scholarships (350 persons);
* $16,900 to After School Centers (which also receive an additional $198,181 in City Funds and $554,457 in fees paid by the city);
* $4,000 to College Careers (apparently new this year—did not appear in 2004-05);
* $30,000 in salaries to Slater Center Staff (a $6,883 increase over 2004-2005);
*$11,500 to Westchester Residential Opportunities Counseling – a pparently a $32,565 cut from 2004-2005;
* $13,600 in WRO 1st Time Homebuyer Housing;
* $12,500 to Meals on Wheels;
* $13,000 to the Food Pantry (a cut of $6,000 from 2004-2005);
* $6,800 to the Grace Church Community Center;
* $4,000 to the Westchester Coalition for the Homeless, and
* $2,000 to the Salvation Army.
Funded with City Money
The city spends an additional $3,153,427 in City funded programs, of which $79,063 is covered by grants, and $600,267 is covered by fees, and $45,650 by New York State.
Here’s the breakdown:
* Senior Citizen Services, $546,914 city funded, with $54,545 in grants and $22,500 in fees; Service Office,$94,208; Youth Bureau, $301,269 city-funded, plus $24,518 in grants;
* After School Centers serving 420 children a week, cost the city $198,181 and $554,457 in fees;
* Youth Employment costs $558,275 of city funds and counsels 3,500 youth;
* The city spends $420,384 on Teen Centers and Computer Centers around town used by 400 children a week;
* The Bits N Pieces Day Camp is funded with $57,424 in city money and serves 110 children, plus $10,735 in fees;
* Slater Center Programs cost the city $201,792.
* Day Camp Scholarships are given to 50 children and are covered by $50,000 in donations (from The Mayor’s fund).
* Programs for the disabled cost $12,575 in fees and receive $45,650 from the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmentally Disabled.
The bottom lines reveal the city will spend in 2006-2007 approximately $34 Million divided as follows:
Housing Rehab– $1.7 M
Housing Aid- $7.5M (Including “Developer’s Contribution to Affordable Housing”
Economic Development: $11.350 M (Including Longview Ave. Garage)
Infrastructure — $4.256 M
Communications — $935,000
Traffic — $300,000
Public Safety — $2.661 M
City Buildings — $1.934 M
Recreation and Parks — $505,000
Public Service Organizations — $3,279 M.
Total Action Spending: $34.2 M Approximate
