The City of Peekskill is exploring allowing businesses to apply for an entertainment venue permit series in addition to temporary operating permits, which can be $125 or more for one time events.
At Monday’s Common Council, City Manager Matthew Alexander said such event series permits could be from March 1 to December 31 and would review businesses for security plans, crowd limits, and noises.
“This would give them [businesses] a much lower fee [per event],” Alexander said. “We would still open the door at $125 but we would like the opportunity to say how hard of a burden is this going to be on the city and take all of that into account before we determine the fee.”
The proposal comes one week after several business owners criticized an unannounced weekend visit by the City of Peekskill Police and Building Department in which four businesses were warned they were operating outside of their certificate of occupancy.
Some business owners told the Herald last week they felt they were “targeted” in what felt like a “police raid,” adding they felt it damaged their businesses. Others also said they felt the $125 temporary operating permit to have dancing or live music at their restaurant was too high.
In response to the event, the city sent out letters to business owners about the “Entertainment Venue Ordinance” on Feb. 27.
Councilman Ramon Fernandez said he believed the way the city handled it was a mistake and that the city should apologize.
“I had the opportunity to see some of the videos [of the enforcement visits] and it was not right,” Fernandez said, adding he heard people were hiding because they thought the city’s building inspectors were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “We need to be careful how we manage that kind of thing.”
Deputy Mayor Patricia Riley said the rollout wasn’t good, but thanked the city manager and city attorney for work on the entertainment venue permits. She added the permits are a great tool for business owners, while also considerate of residents who live downtown and might be affected by establishments’ noise levels while trying to sleep.
Addressing the enforcement warning visits, Alexander apologized for “bad communication” and said it rested on his responsibility.
In regard to the event series permits, he said, “The most important piece is that we clearly communicate our expectations of what safety means and what we’re asking each business to adhere to.”
More information about the permits, including how they may be implemented, will be brought back for discussion on Monday, March 17.
Council revisits banning smoking near restaurants, bus camera system
The Common Council revisited several legal agenda items from last year, including a proposed local law banning smoking outdoors in proximity to outdoor dining near restaurants.
A public hearing held last June on the law that would ban smoking within 100 feet of any outdoor dining establishment. Because the council never adopted a final resolution, it will need to schedule another hearing.
Several council members, including Brian Fassett and Robert Scott, said they would like to move forward with the hearing. Fassett said the outstanding question the council had was whether the outdoor smoking ban would be city wide or limited to the Business Improvement District.
Another item discussed was adopting a bus camera program that allows the issuance of violations to vehicles that illegally pass a stopped school bus.
More than a year ago Councilman Scott brought up the idea after a conversation with Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio. Then Scott mentioned that other municipalities, like Yonkers, have such a system in place.
However, according to City Attorney Eric Gordon, while there is a countywide bus camera safety program, it only applies to towns and villages.
Gordon asked if the council wanted to move forward with implementing a bus safety program for which the city would likely be financially responsible, in terms of equipment costs and associated maintenance.
The council will discuss such costs on March 17.
Members also discussed making text amendments to a special permit code for family and group family daycare homes.
In January, council members were recommended by the city attorney and director of planning to remove a special code prohibiting state registered family day care homes through “restrictive local ordinances.”
The city received a letter from the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) last November, stating the city could not impose a special permit or other additional zoning requirements on home and group family residential daycare, as the current code does.
Gordon provided additional information regarding OCFS’s position. He reported that OCFS said it does not engage in enforcement actions against cities, but would support the owner of a facility if there were a challenge to the city’s special permit with a lawsuit.
He added that OCFS has extensive regulations and requirements, and investigates complaints almost immediately if there are any concerns with any facilities.
The council continued discussion on removing the special code in executive session.
Additional Hollowbrook Dam work still required
Water & Sewer Superintendent David Rambo said two items still remain incomplete for the rehabilitation of the Hollowbrook Dam.
A portion of the work was performed at the end of 2024, following a request for additional work at the dam on October 7.
However, additional engineering design is required, Rambo said, due to the complexity of the two remaining items and required regulatory oversight by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health.
The current engineering firm on the project, Weston & Sampson Inc., submitted a $109,500 proposal to provide revised construction plans, obtain regulatory permits, and perform construction administration and construction oversight.
A portion of their cost, Rambo said, is dedicated to third-party geotechnical evaluation for $33,800 and construction oversight of $15,000. Upon the third party’s recommendation, Weston & Sampson would then take it from there, building a wall on the north side.
If the council approves the firm’s proposal, the firm can start design plans, then begin construction in the spring.
