Not dead yet!

Hey everyone. I'm sorry for the radio silence. Partly it has been my own busyness, but partly that there was, well, little to report. But things may be creaking into gear into again:

From Cathy Fahey, an update on the Comp Plan board: "The City received over 100 applications for the Comprehensive Plan Board. Upwards of 30-plus individuals were chosen to be interviewed. Most of the interviews took place late last year. Council leadership stated that there was a long delay by City administration in scheduling the completion of the interviews. The last several interviews are being conducted this week so the upshot is that this slow moving process is moving forward once again."

From Alan Mallach on the final, more detailed report from the Sustainable Design Assessment Team process last summer: "In answer to your unasked question, the SDAT report has been finished for some time, and seems to be stuck in some design/production black hole at AIA. The short answer is 'any day now.'"

Nothing earth-shattering, but perhaps we're all about to come out of hibernation. I'll try to find out more as it happens. As usual, anyone with more details, especially anyone who participated in a Comp Plan Board interview, feel free to pipe up and offer your thoughts.

Comments

[Jason Brzoska]

Well, I got an official rejection letter from the City last week... after I withdrew my candidacy in like November!

[Scott Townsend]

The Common Council met with the selected Committee members last Wednesday (4/16) in a caucus forum and the Council is supposed to vote in the members this Monday (4/21). I was impressed with the breadth and the depth of the constituencies, cultures, neighborhoods, ages and professions represented in the group. I personally am looking forward to the dialogue, ideas and diligently moving the comprehensive plan forward.

Also, I corresponded with Erin from AIA and it really does appear that we will have the final SDAT report in our hands in the next week or two. It may be late but it's timing works really well since it can act as a foundation for the plan and great starting point for dialogue amongst the Committee.

[Richard Conti]

Here's the text of the resolution adopted by the Common Council on 4/21/08 appointing the remaining members of the Comp Plan Board.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 40.42.08R

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL APPOINTING ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO THE CITY OF ALBANY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BOARD

WHEREAS, on May 7, 2007 the Common Council adopted Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended) establishing the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” with the charge of developing a comprehensive plan in accordance with section 28-a of the NYS General City Law; and,

WHEREAS, such Board is to be comprised of 30 members to be appointed by the Common Council; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended) designated 10 ex-officio members, one of whom shall be a member of the Planning Board; and

WHEREAS, upwards of 100 individuals expressed interest in appointment to one of the remaining 20 openings and a joint committee representative of the Executive and Legislative branches of government interviewed nearly 50 applicants; and

WHEREAS, such committee through consensus has identified a diverse and representative slate of nominees for appointment to the 20 openings on the Comprehensive Plan Board.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following named individuals are hereby appointed members of the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” as established by and in accordance with Resolution 25.31.07R (as amended):

Matthew Baumgartner
Samantha Bosshart
Kathleen Cloutier
Elizabeth Doran
Maxine Fantroy-Ford
Jeffery Gritsavage
Christopher Hawver
Helen Klaeysen
Herbert McLaughlin
Louise McNeilly
Jeffery Mirel
Sandra Misiewicz
Dennis Mosley
Brenda Motley
Robert Schofield
Gene Solan
Joseph Stellato
Karen Strong
Scott Townsend
Arlene Way

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Ryan Hancox is appointed a member of the “City of Albany Comprehensive Plan Board” representing the Planning Board.