Fall in the Hudson Valley means foliage. Matt Rudikoff, the city’s Economic Development Specialist, presented at the Sept. 16 Common Council meeting about the possibility of Trinity Cruises operating fall foliage tours during weekends in September and October from the newly renovated Fleischmann Pier.
The Sept. 16 meeting also featured news of a recent grant award to Peekskill’s Section 8 program, discussion on a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a planning firm, a contract amendment for a city project, and a police blotter posted by the Business Improvement District (BID).
Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley spearheaded the council meeting as Mayor Vivian McKenzie was absent due to a family matter.
Fleischmann Pier – Inauguration of Fall Foliage Trips
Earlier this month, the city released an RFP for commercial boat operators for Fleischmann Pier to bring visitors to the city. At a pre-submission meeting held last week with potential candidates, one company, Trinity Cruises, expressed interest in running tours this fall, according to Rudikoff.
Trinity Cruises, which currently operates the Evening Star from Riverfront Green, informed city staff that it had acquired a second cruise vessel, Stroller IV, and proposed starting fall foliage tours this month. The tours would run for 5 weekends, possibly from the last week of September through October, according to Rudikoff. The city recently extended its license agreement with Trinity Cruises for their boat operations at Riverfront Green.
The Evening Star currently offers fall foliage trips through New York Boat Co. The hour and a half long cruise departs from Riverfront Green and goes past Bear Mountain Bridge and back. Prices vary for passengers. Snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine are available on board for purchase.
In his memo to the council, Rudikoff stated that the Fleischmann Pier design engineer has determined that the dock is suitable for the proposed usage. And, the city already has an established working relationship with Trinity Cruises. Yet, Economic Development Specialist Rudikoff felt starting tours this fall would be an administrative stretch, and seemed hesitant to raise this special economic development with the council.
Overall, the council seemed amenable to Trinity Cruises’ proposal.
Councilman Brian Fassett asked what benefits the city would receive from rushing the pier’s boat operations (The city stated in their RFP it plans to make commercial boat operations available starting in Spring 2025.) Rudikoff responded, “It would really be a matter of public relations. To let the world know that we have a dock and that it’s operational and that we’ve really mobilized and put into action much of the investment that’s been made down there.” He added it would allow the city to get a feel about how the boat operations would operate.
Councilwoman Kathleen Talbot asked whether Trinity Cruises would need to get a lease or a permit to begin operations. Director of Planning Carol Samol said if the council proceeds with the proposal, city staff could simply amend their license agreement with Trinity Cruises. She added that while negotiations with Trinity Cruises have not begun, license amendment options could include charging Trinity Cruises every time it docks a boat or charging a set fee for the season..
Councilman Dwight Douglas suggested that since Trinity Cruises’ boat will dock in Peekskill for five weeks, the city should look into security. Samol stated that the city will work that out with Trinity Cruises.
A resolution to approve Trinity Cruises’ proposal will be on the Sept. 23 council meeting agenda.
Matrix New World Engineering Contract Amendment
At the Sept. 16 work session, Director of Planning Samol informed council members that Matrix New World Engineering, the company that provided construction inspection services for the reconstruction of Fleischmann Pier and improvements to Charles Point Park, has requested amendments to their original contract with the city.
Matrix was hired in April 2022 for an original contract amount of $234,120 that assumed an 11-month construction period. According to Samol’s memo, Custom Marine, Inc., the general contractor of the projects, was scheduled to begin in July 2022 and complete it by October 2023. However, due to delays for permit approvals, lead times, subcontractor retention, and in-water work restrictions, the project has continued for 22 months.
Now that the project is nearing completion, Matrix has requested that its original contract be amended to $310,120, to cover inspection services during the extended period of construction, which is expected to finish in November 2024. The proposed amendment is a $76,000 increase on Matrix’s original contract.
Councilman Douglas asked Samol how the city would fund this contract amendment and Samol responded that the city has sufficient funds in its grant budgets.
A resolution will be presented to the council at the Sept. 23 council meeting to authorize this contract amendment.
Planning Consultant for Highway Garage Highest & Best Use Study
Samol announced at the Sept. 16 meeting that the city received 12 responses to its Request for Proposals for a qualified planning or real estate consulting firm to conduct a study of the highest and best use of three city-owned parcels: 100 South Street (Department of Public Works Highway Garage), 30 Louisa Street, and 1001-1003 Lower South Street.
The city expects to spend $50,000 for this study. The study will be funded by a $25,000 grant from Empire State Development (ESD) and a city match of $25,000. Samol noted that the Planning Department has approached the Industrial Development Agency to cover the city match.
Of the 12 firms with proposals, four were interviewed by the city. At this week’s work session, Samol stated that city staff have decided to proceed with Cooper Carry with RKG Analysis for the study. Cooper Carry is a firm based out of Atlanta, G.A, with a satellite office in New York City.
“We were so impressed with their visualization [and] their approach that we opted to go with them and we thought it would be good to try a new group for this kind of work,” said Samol. She added that this study would be a precursor for the city’s upcoming comprehensive plan and that it’s important to understand what are the development possibilities for these city-owned parcels.
A resolution will be prepared for the Sept. 23 council meeting authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Cooper Carry.
Section 8: Family Self-Sufficiency Program Grant
In 2022, the City of Peekskill Section 8 program applied for a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program grant. Director of Section 8 Jessica Ganus notified council members at the Sept. 16 meeting, that the program was awarded a $56,280 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
According to Ganus’ memo, the grant will be specifically used for the administration of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program for the City of Peekskill Section 8 Program Housing Choice Voucher Participants.
The primary objective of the Family Self-Sufficiency Program is to provide opportunities to low-income Section 8 families for education, job training, counseling, and other forms of social service assistance, to support families in achieving self-sufficiency, according to the New York State website.
Ganus stated the next steps would be creating a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Action Plan, have it approved by HUD, and start enrolling families into the program. The enrollment process will feature the creation of a waiting list, noted Ganus.
After her remarks to the council, Councilman Dwight Douglas asked Ganus when the city’s Section 8 program expects to move to their new office spaces at John Walsh Blvd. Ganus responded that they are waiting for the internet to be installed at the new office spaces, and it will take 30-60 days before they can move in.
A resolution authorizing the acceptance of the FSS grant will be prepared for the Sept. 23 Common Council meeting.
Liaison Reports/Concerns and Issues
During his report, Councilman Fassett said that a free shuttle service, a collaboration between the city and the BID to transport visitors between the train station and downtown Peekskill, will start by September 27, perhaps earlier.
“We are just about finished with all the details to get the shuttle rolling.,” said Fassett.
The shuttle service will be run on Fridays from 4 to 10:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 to 8 p.m., according to Fassett. “It will run on a continuous loop… about every 30 minutes,” he said. Fassett added that more information will come out soon.
Fassett also asked City Manager Matt Alexander about the creation of a police blotter, which was discussed at a BID meeting held in August with Chief of Police Leo Dylewski.
“I’ve been looking at some information that the Chief started giving me about a month ago and I’m trying to figure out how that can be consolidated into something meaningful. So the Chief and I are going to talk more about it and I’ll be bringing that back,” said Alexander.
