[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6384544,"mediaKeyId","2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4","parentId",2122522,"title","Council approves Neighborhood Jobs & Housing item to fund community cannabis support initiative; Bloom selected without RFP","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",677000,"endMs",823000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4&start=677&end=823","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4/thumbnail_677000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6384544/Rochester-City/Monroe-County/New-York/Council-approves-Neighborhood-Jobs-Housing-item-to-fund-community-cannabis-support-initiative-Bloom-selected-without-RFP","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384544-415069f12f489ecfe6058dde7510839e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179516&Signature=bpCm5Y5OLEnxzWzgCQ0oPO1RCP3m~dMy26YvgC~-kcVPIJlvhNzUrNKUKoFKhPTw3sCRI-UuKS1H61p6IEkQ7uUHDcVCe-gNSYHJTkm0MqylN~R8rwEFU~Y0byskiOVY0xDPuJ~29TD5qbeHIYYn9jrWfybEpT2OSpL3xM1ON1LmwTRf2TeMcxcf769Fr0~xTjj-enEc6cTaUYBOeo-xOiYYVFo6atKuC~wB-UlMhN5lXLBWOBhp2qu7sbfRaeSG-iqOgKHDnTfESBbOwkFmBfpvNknVWWuQYlHqx-MfYnYCC2s7Fp0-djGVSxB0ouuv1YNmMQdiHk1zv6Aj~qkcpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rochester, NY City Council","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Introductory number 30, appropriating funds and authorizing an agreement for a community cannabis support initiative, passed after discussion about vendor selection and funding source.

Council Member Martin asked how Bloom was selected and why the transmittal did not include an RFP. The committee heard that this was a council-sponsored item (not administration-originated) and the transmittal included a justification for a no-RFP procurement: Bloom had existing on-the-ground work, established accountability structures and prior experience that the sponsor considered sufficient. Staff clarified the contracting would route through the mayor’s office because that office already manages preexisting contracting and payment processes.

Council members asked where the council funds were coming from; staff and the council president identified the money as dollars set aside for \"emerging needs\" (the transcript references a $200,000 allocation), and staff agreed to provide a written accounting of the emerging-needs fund balance and prior allocations.

Director Warren agreed to provide a written accounting of the fund balance and prior allocations, and staff said Bloom would submit requests for payment to the mayor’s contracting office under the chosen structure.

The motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee requested written follow-up on the exact fund balance and prior allocations that comprise the funding source for this item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rochester, NY City Council Committee Meeting - January 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved spending and contract authorization for a community cannabis support initiative, awarding the work to Bloom without a public RFP and using council-designated \"emerging needs\" funds.","taxTitle","Rochester City, Monroe County, New York","taxId",3654,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6384548,"Council approves transferring $194,000 into Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation books",116,334000,450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4&start=334&end=450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4/thumbnail_334000.jpg","/articles/6384548/Rochester-City/Monroe-County/New-York/Council-approves-transferring-194000-into-Rochester-Housing-Stability-Fund-Corporation-books","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384548-9012b8d89e6478c3768466bf8ef2e838/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179516&Signature=C4Qf50jTNsb-ikwgbnz6qg5PKBkL~ik~KZPm9X2rkm-A0~H9UGMSGb5VHLGWOR2R17ZYjP-rsGWcoO7OiVA~QkMdWaAKEXrd1622Svb-GYKUUKfBG16u7M4fOv-9sG3G4CGGy8OtV~p~fzG48xT1EPcMv6fvvcc8PrsdIVu7IWaFvEdRzHTPQ02LbKO4nuFmSTKDiZuMFsjNFOm8ADZoyVnJcDud46eLtqW6gMk-JLGqxiXO8VJ3iCJBb1TA9Vd-u1EZTUs2Q5sHLZdYpTjhGBYvsroMAslQCBbqpztJF~OV0YeJ8F4HWPN-7ROfpehyhmxTwWf7ZZYe4KLq47pdZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members approved introductory number 2, authorizing a shared services and grant agreement and amending the 2024–25 budget to place $194,000 into the Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation, the entity the council identified as the official housing trust fund.

Council Member Gruber asked for a full scope and the practical effect of the action. Staff explained that the Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation has bylaws, articles and a board in place; the $194,000 represents funds already allocated to housing-trust-eligible activities and will be entered into the corporation’s books as its opening budget. “At this time, yes,” staff said when asked whether that amount will be the corporation’s total budget for now.

Council members asked about board meetings and reporting. Staff said the corporation meets monthly and will provide an annual presentation to the council; timing of the first formal report will be within the calendar year. Council members also asked whether the corporation could raise revenue through a local real-estate transfer fee; staff said that additional local taxation or a real-estate fee would require state legislation and agreed to provide a written explanation from the city legal office.

The motion was moved, seconded and passed without recorded dissent.

Council staff said the administration will continue to seek other sources of revenue to expand the trust fund, and that the corporation’s board and bylaws are in place to manage program activity going forward.","Council passed an item to authorize a shared services and grant agreement and amend the 2024–25 budget to move $194,000 into the Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation, formalizing previously allocated funds and establishing the corporation's initial budget and reporting schedule.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6384553,"Rochester outlines \"Our Future Fund\" children's savings accounts; seeks private and grant funding",858,1958000,2816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4&start=1958&end=2816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4/thumbnail_1958000.jpg","/articles/6384553/Rochester-City/Monroe-County/New-York/Rochester-outlines-Our-Future-Fund-childrens-savings-accounts-seeks-private-and-grant-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384553-bc6bf1bacb1bff6ec235557e24fadd5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179516&Signature=RjQDJihe2BVyqAI6Gu4cJHhTYsth4dC7P0vlL8IawwH2DEQxk~Xv2nz0r42vt1BHR7saqCqt1LduYn4wI9jy~rVaZmNFJiDC2hO6iwImyy82f55mHptcCJ8nJggy6wmHu-1nEaCDjCK8vnlNRKaxtligHQM8e4fSP0pzo5LecJYNUFeFMODFz96b7FDXDlB6uSW6cWeUMFXbFsqN1Kl-7Xcu8NRj4YDHbvAIcD9xA-h9YiNJltv7F5QfKrI5BkVt0l7ytVYu9kPf761bh6MDCyPYW51YrOB~pX3dJqgwjHKcNlKQ7qmVG5WmSXqr177Wm5pcFGw-PCnGoYJ3ZUStiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angela Rollins and Madeline Bridal of the mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment presented the city’s proposed children’s savings account (CSA) program, called Our Future Fund, to the People, Parks and Public Works Committee, outlining a universal, automatic enrollment for Rochester City School District kindergartners and a plan to seek external funding to start the program.

The presentation said the program would open an account for every kindergarten student in the Rochester City School District (RCSD), place a $50 seed deposit in each account and add a $100 equity bonus for children from the highest-poverty households. The proposal includes action-based bonuses — modest deposits tied to participation in activities such as obtaining a library card, attending health screenings, or completing free tax preparation — plus ongoing age-appropriate financial education and opportunities for parents to contribute if they choose.

“Children’s savings accounts or CSAs are a form of long-term savings or investment account that are opened on behalf of a child by a municipal government,” Madeline Bridal said during the presentation. Bridal cited national research showing CSAs can improve college enrollment, high school graduation rates and financial literacy.

Angela Rollins reviewed the local context and early outcomes from the office’s work. “Last fiscal year… we had over $1,600,000 in financial gains of our program participants,” Rollins said, and described the office’s broader work on financial counseling, small-business Kiva loans and bank-access programs used to support the CSA design.

City staff said municipalities are prohibited by the state constitution from making direct grants or loans with municipal funds; as a result, the administration is seeking private, philanthropic and state or federal grant funding to bankroll accounts. “Municipalities cannot put money into these accounts by New York State law,” Rollins told council members, noting the office’s plan to secure funding for at least the first three years before a public launch.

The presenters said they have run a yearlong community design process involving more than 300 parents and 50 organizations, and have a preliminary intermunicipal agreement in progress with RCSD for data sharing and Bank-at-School activities. Rollins said the team aims for a program launch by the end of 2025 if funding and partner agreements are secured.

Council members asked about scope and inclusion. President Melendez and Council Member Patterson urged the team to make the program inclusive of charter-school students who live in Rochester; Bridal said the initial rollout would focus on RCSD for logistical reasons but staff would explore mechanisms for other city students to opt in or be included later. Council members also asked whether state or federal funds or ARPA could be used; staff repeatedly said the constitutional restriction prevents direct municipal payments into accounts and that the city will pursue nonmunicipal funding and partnerships.

The presentation included a related pilot: positive rent reporting to credit bureaus. Staff said three housing providers — Rochester Housing Authority, Heart Homes and Rosie Property Management — had been selected to pilot positive rent reporting after a six-month training period; residents must opt in to have rent reporting recorded to credit agencies.

The committee did not vote on the CSA program at the meeting; staff said they will return with specific contract and funding requests after securing partners and grant awards.

Looking ahead, staff asked council members for help connecting to philanthropic and corporate funders and for patience as the office seeks multi-year funding to avoid a one-year pilot that would leave families without long-term commitments.","City staff presented a design for a universal children's savings account program for Rochester City School District kindergartners, proposing a $50 seed deposit, additional equity bonuses for the poorest children, action-based bonuses tied to participation, and a goal to launch by the end of 2025 while seeking nonmunicipal funding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6384539,"Votes at a glance: committee passes real-estate sales, community garden license, climate and infrastructure items",797,63000,860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4&start=63&end=860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2122522-144524dc525732ba3de251d86199b7d4/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6384539/Rochester-City/Monroe-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-passes-real-estate-sales-community-garden-license-climate-and-infrastructure-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384539-b72ae40a4c2856dcd7b90fceb5d5e685/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179516&Signature=EB5Zo5U-4yDhE~AiAFZlqaW4DIVqw4zNljI5yCBSdsqd-ViXR1avjxWlySOxd3P5oC4Yt0GexARjNMlkvnbu-oJME1xPimjYiUR7qPVip00voLN60wFtj6Wx-H9T15Cooe2xk-EFrR01q9LFjy8YbQxpH7YLWzPpda3tAWw4Tc-H8c4Nuejj3n2aywyzLr0kCu8vxPyqCcTL5HjdqonGfgC3kdoPKKKOYCPmCiMM-8YPcWrmqguGnBWlS8MEH6b3z0P32fOkS0Zcn2PMew4s2RhZ9iXnPEk4d-Oq1H5mpNi4sRRueKGJSRGZ~35lLA5KdNnHlJI7h1YOJfdqgxbHsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple introductory items were considered and approved by the committees during the meeting. The following is a summary of formal actions recorded in the transcript; where the transcript did not include roll-call tallies, items passed by voice vote.

- Introductory 1 — Authorize sale of real estate (three parcels including properties on Raeburn Avenue, Seneca Parkway and New York Street). Committee discussion included neighborhood engagement for the Seneca Parkway parcel and assurances that the buyer intends to rehabilitate and use the Seneca Parkway property as a single-family home. Outcome: introductory passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 2 — Authorize shared services and grant agreement and amend 2024–25 budget for Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation (see separate article). Outcome: introductory passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 3 — License agreement for a community garden (South Wedge Planning Committee). Outcome: introductory passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 4 — Held in committee for additional information; staff will provide impact examples and customer details in writing. Outcome: held in committee.

- Introductory 5 — Grant agreement to fund climate action plan strategies, amended in committee to change the contracting entity; funding includes $125,000 to subsidize incremental costs of heat-pump retrofits and related electrification work for existing home-rehab projects. Staff estimated funding would fully electrify roughly 10–15 homes using the allocation. Outcome: amended motion and passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 6 — Grant agreements for NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities program. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 7 — Appropriation and professional services for North Clinton app. milling and resurfacing project. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 8 — Bond ordinance authorizing issuance of bonds to finance City Hall stairway, areaway and street replacement and repair projects (amount listed in transmittal: approximately $101,887,000). Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 9 — Bond ordinance to finance City Hall sidewalk replacement project (amount listed in transmittal). Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 10 — Authorizing grants related to City Hall stairway and sidewalk projects. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 11 — Agreement and budget amendment to accept a $40,000 award from the New York State Council on the Arts. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 12 — Grant agreement to support crisis intervention services (peer navigation, mobile unit supplies and vehicle replacement). Staff said an RFP for peer navigator services was posted and proposals are due March 7; council will see the agreement in May. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 13 — Agreements for the Bureau of Justice Assistance Fiscal Year 2024 Justice Assistance Grant program (allocation includes supports for intervention units and peer work). Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 14 — Agreement for database and case-management services for Rochester Animal Services (staff said this is an existing system that had not previously been routed through council). Outcome: passes (voice vote).

- Introductory 15 — Appropriation to support senior support services, including $75,000 for senior center programming (Sibley Square Project, World Café, Lily Café at Maplewood) and $5,000 for a digital-access GrandPad pilot; funding drawn from council priorities / prior budget intent items. Council requested a written accounting of remaining council-priorities funds. Outcome: passes (voice vote).

Several motions were moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; when council members requested additional detail staff agreed to provide written follow-ups on funding sources, procurement justifications or project maps where noted.","The Neighborhood Jobs & Housing and People, Parks & Public Works committees approved a slate of introductory items by voice votes, including sale of three city parcels, real-estate and infrastructure bond ordinances, climate-action retrofit grants, streetlight conversions, cultural-arts and public-safety grants, and senior support funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves Neighborhood Jobs & Housing item to fund community cannabis support initiative; Bloom selected without RFP

Council approves transferring $194,000 into Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation books

Rochester outlines "Our Future Fund" children's savings accounts; seeks private and grant funding

Votes at a glance: committee passes real-estate sales, community garden license, climate and infrastructure items