For those of you who can't make it to the weekly Common Council meeting, following is the unedited briefing. We included the topics that relate to larger segments of the community. From yesterday's meeting summary as provided by the council:

COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT FOR THE CANAL SIDE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT--The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Fillmore District Council Member David Franczyk and Delaware District Council Member Michael LoCurto supporting the creation of a Community Benefits Agreement ("CBA") for the Canal Side Development Project. The resolution also opposes Erie County providing further subsidies to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation ("ECHDC"), Bass Pro Outdoor World Shop, and the Master Developer unless a CBA acceptable to all parties is reached. A CBA has proven to be an effective tool for protecting taxpayer interests in development projects across the country. In this case the sought after CBA would be a legally binding contract negotiated between the City, the developer, and the specific entities involved in the development project and is intended to ensure a strong and long-term return on the public's multi-million dollar investment. The Canal Side Development Project, an approximately $294 million development, is being overseen by the ECHDC, and is intended to both revitalize Buffalo's waterfront and foster economic growth. As part of the project the City of Buffalo, Erie County, and New York State are providing subsidies and incentives to Bass Pro, a privately held sports equipment and outdoor recreation goods store; these include: a direct payment of $35 million for development of their local facility, an exemption from sales tax for construction materials, rent of only $1 per year, and parking and marina use provisions. Bass Pro and related development is estimated to create approximately 1,600 jobs, most of which will be retail positions. The Council maintains however that retail jobs should not be subsidized with tax payer money, since retail jobs are typically low-pay, zero or low-benefit, and part time. Notwithstanding, the Council is threatening to deny the transfer of 13 acres of City-controlled property needed to complete the project in an effort to encourage all parties to continue communications as a prerequisite to negotiation of a CBA.

OLD FIRST WARD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION APPLICATION--The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Fillmore District Council Member David Franczyk approving the application of the Old First Ward Community Association ("OFWCA") for a grant under the New York State Main Street Grant Program. The Main Street Grant Program provides funds from the New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation ("HTFC") to business improvement districts and other not-for-profit organizations that are committed to revitalizing historic downtowns, mixed-use neighborhood commercial districts, and village centers. As an organization dedicated to improving the neighborhoods near and around the Buffalo River, OFWCA plans to use the grant funds to revitalize the Seneca Street Commercial Corridor. As a requirement of the application, OWFCA must obtain the approval of the City of Buffalo Common Council.

COMMUNITY GARDEN TASK FORCE--The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Niagara District Council Member David Rivera empowering the Community Garden Task Force to create a policy for the creative reuse of vacant and abandoned land within the City of Buffalo. Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture is an organization that converts vacant land into neighborhood civic spaces where people grow vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. In July 2008 the Common Council commissioned Community Gardens and Urban Agriculture advocates to establish the Community Garden Task Force in order to recommend to the Common Council ways in which the City could better utilize its vacant and abandoned land. The Council directed the City of Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning to establish a "Diggable Cities Database" which will document the availability of suitable lands for community gardening and allow those that want to create a community garden or urban farm to do so more easily. The Council supports the ongoing work of the Community Garden Task Force and will do everything in its power to help foster and create community gardens and urban agriculture in the City of Buffalo.

WIND TURBINES FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO--The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by South District Council Member Michael Kearns showing support for exploring the possibility of installing and producing wind turbines in the City of Buffalo. Many communities around the country are in the process of investing in wind turbine technology as a way of reducing dependency on foreign oil, generating clean renewable energy, and positioning their local economies to be leaders in green energy technology and manufacturing. The City of Buffalo has numerous advantages when it comes to the installation of wind turbines, including: consistently strong winds off of Lake Erie; proximity to an international border crossing; numerous rail lines, highways, waterways and ports; and a skilled workforce and strong manufacturing base. The Council intends to facilitate and sponsor discussions between local citizens, the legal community, environmental groups, wind energy experts, and elected officials concerning the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges of pursuing wind turbine installation and production in the City of Buffalo.
 
MEETING BUFFALO'S HOUSING NEEDS--The Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Niagara District Council Member David Rivera supporting People United for Sustainable Housing's ("PUSH") Massachusetts Avenue Development Plan and encouraging the Federal Home Loan Bank to provide financing for this project. PUSH is a not-for-profit organization with an excellent reputation for advancing an anti-poverty agenda and providing affordable, high quality housing for City of Buffalo residents. Recently, PUSH has been awarded funding from the New York State Department of Housing and Community Revitalization to perform "gut rehabs" on three vacant properties on Massachusetts Avenue, as part of their Massachusetts Avenue Development Plan. The Council declared that PUSH's Massachusetts Avenue Development Plan meets the housing needs and development strategies set forth in the City of Buffalo's Livable Communities Initiative, its Commercial Area Revitalization Effort and its
Comprehensive Plan.