Sustainability Key Topic at
City Council Regular Legislative Meeting

By Stephen E. Lipken

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson opened the City Council Regular Legislative Meeting, April 19, 2022, immediately designating Council’s Ecology and Natural Resources Advisory Committee, as the City’s official Climate Smart Community Task Force.

Comprised of fifteen volunteer members, ENRAC will advise Council and Administration on issues related to GreeNR Sustainability Plan, Climate Emergency Declaration and other environmental matters.  Additionally, in 2022 the City created a Sustainability Coordinator, Nicholas Sioufas, to assist with the City’s sustainability initiatives.

A Resolution acknowledging City’s participation Sustainable Westchester’s Community Choice Aggregation Program (Westchester Power) since 2014 requires periodic sign off on an Electric Service Agreement, joining participating municipalities to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to confirm their commitments.

The City launched the CircuitNR in 2019 to provide a complimentary, on-demand electric shuttle service that transports riders along several downtown New Rochelle routes.  

Currently, CircuitNR is being funded by Cares Act monies through April 2022.  In consulting with the program administrators, it was determined that some of the programs allocated Cares Act funding have either moved to another funding source, or full amount allocated would not be spent.  

“Based on this analysis, the Department of Development was able to recover $364,634 in Cares Act funding which we would like to reallocate to offset cost of operating CircuitNR through October 2022.”  The Resolution was approved.

Other Legislation included proposed acceptance of low bid re: Sanitary Sewer Enhancement Phase 1G Project, Burling Lane from May Street to North Avenue then North Avenue from Burling Lane to Lockwood Avenue; proposed Lead Agency re: SEQRA Reservoir 1 Resolution relative to reconstruction of Reservoir 1 Lake Isle; Commendation of Ursuline School undefeated Game Day Team for winning the NYS Fall Section 1 Championship; NYS Regional Championship; Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) Pocono Regional Championship; UCA Empire Regional Championship and National High School Cheerleading Championship.