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Council
of Meeting Minutes
John Cirrin announced that the Albany Public Library
will hold public meetings on February 26 at
Kathleen
Kearney did not sign the attendance sheet at the
Helen
Desfosses, President of the Articles
about population policy published in 1999 predicted that Some
misinformation that may be affecting people's desire to live in ·
People don't seem to be aware of the fact that the rebuilding of ·
·
There is an attitude that "nothing can be done." Seven
of eight older established cities in our region have experienced population
decline as well, but Other
cities have instituted programs that are worth considering such as ·
Announce a population plan ·
Work with groups and organizations who are trying to attract professionals ·
Take a regional approach to address the pending new development Municipalities
must work together on cross-jurisdictional issues.
In There
are several steps ·
Make further efforts to keep residents ·
Undertake a program to attract new residents ·
Upgrade it's web site and add links ·
Survey all citizens about issues important to them ·
Institute a centralized 311 system to deal with quality of life issues on
a 24-hour per day basis ·
Establish a city-wide plan that includes a vision, a plan, and a
commitment to implementation to enable the city to be proactive and promote
connectivity and enthusiasm. ·
Provide more opportunities for homeownership ·
Commit as a community to the new schools being planned and built ·
Set up offices & programs to welcome new residents ·
Recognize and foster residential enclaves that have formed as a result of
immigration ·
Work with the Albany Gay and ·
Young college graduates are
Questions and discussion ·
Most properties in ·
Regionalization should not surpress local communities' ability to rule. ·
The Center for Economic Growth will probably convene all groups formed to
address regionalization within six months. ·
The Tech Valley Chambers of Commerce have done an excellent job of
marketing
·
Not-for-profit groups should play a role in the CEG "focus"
group. ·
How to "get from here to there" 1.
Improve the City's website 2.
Institute a 311 system 3.
A city-wide plan was developed at the Neighborhood Works Conference; the
City has stated that there are no funds or manpower to adopt such a plan. 4.
Recognize that people move out of 5.
Mandate training for members of the Zoning Board of Appeals as recommended
by CEG. 6.
City should promote neighborhood associations and community groups 7.
Use public access television to educate and promote
Michael
Breslin, As
Medicaid enrollment grows and the State adds new programs and services, the
amount of money counties must contribute to that State program increases.
Those increases have averaged 15 percent in each of the years since 1995.
The County's proposed Medicaid appropriation will be $65.5 million for
2004, which is a 60 percent increase since 2000.
Since 1999 Albany County Medicaid appropriations have been higher than
the entire County tax levy. Several
reasons for that increase have been identified. ·
People live longer and the number of people receiving Medicaid benefits
has increased ·
The cost of medicines and pharmaceuticals has increased and the State has
not pursued a drug-buying program ·
The State adds new programs each year such as Family Health Plus
·
Eligibility requirements change ·
People divest their assets to qualify for Medicaid With
a $40 million surplus in County funds depleted, Mr.
Breslin seeks support in the "Cap Medicaid Now" campaign to hold
county taxpayers harmless from further increases in Medicaid costs.
Petitions can be signed at www.albanycounty.com.
Pre-addressed postcards were distributed for members to use to
communicate support to him and, in turn, to the State of
Marci Nelligan -
·
Ernest Sternberg is available to speak in May on "Heritage-Based
Tourism." However he is only
available to Thursday, May 20 or Friday, May 21.
The chairman asked for suggestions about whether to change the date of
the May CANA meeting or to sponsor a speech by Mr. Sternberg as a separate,
special event. The consensus was
that it should be scheduled as a separate event.
John Cirrin will determine whether one of the meeting rooms at the Albany
Public Library Main Branch is available for one of those dates.
·
The ·
Neighborhood announcements are welcome on the ·
Five neighborhood associations presently participate in the committee
established to address issues about parking.
That committee focuses on downtown parking.
·
Committee on University and Community Relations - Tom Gebhardt The
next meeting will be at
A
few associations have paid dues since the report included in the agenda was
issued.
The meeting adjourned at Meeting Attendees
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