City Council Work Session

The Department of Management Services requests City Council approval for a one-year support contract with Aztec Tech to service the city's fleet of HP printers. This contract is deemed an emergency because Hewlett Packard unexpectedly terminated the city's previous support contract on October 5, 2025, leaving the city without support for these devices. Aztec Tech, which already supports the city's copiers, has agreed to provide support on a per-page basis for supplies and service. The associated costs will be covered under budget code A1680.407, Leasing and Printing. The city will continue to explore other vendor options for 2027.

The City Council is asked to confirm and ratify an emergency procurement for enhanced email protection and identity threat detection services for the City's Microsoft 365 environment. This action was taken in December 2025 due to active and ongoing intrusion attempts into the City's email system, which is a mission-critical system. The service, procured from Hi-Link Technology Group LLC, provides 24x7 SOC monitoring and response support. The cost is $14,880.00 for coverage from October 2025 to September 2026 (including a trial month in September 2025), covering 620 users at $24/user. Funds will be drawn from account A1680.216. This service aims to detect and mitigate suspicious login activity, account compromise attempts, and advanced email-based threats to protect City operations and sensitive information.

The Department of Public Works is requesting authorization to award a professional services agreement to Woodard & Curran for engineering and infrastructure support. This contract, not to exceed $5,000,000 over a three-year term with a one-year extension option, will support ongoing and emerging engineering, infrastructure, and capital program needs. Key areas of focus include the City's Sanitary Sewer and Stormwater Management initiatives, as well as broader Clean Water infrastructure efforts. Funding will be drawn from approved departmental budgets and eligible grant funding, including an allocated $150 Million from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. The agreement aims to ensure projects are strategically planned, compliant with mandates, and efficiently implemented, benefiting residents and supporting the City's long-term resilience.

The Department of Public Works is requesting authorization to amend the existing contract with National Water Main Cleaning Company for Project No. 122022-1, which involves cleaning and inspection of the Outfall 24 Sewer System. The contract was initially awarded for $1,661,800 and later amended to $2,361,800. While most work is complete, approximately $60,000 remains to finalize cleaning, inspection, and closeout activities. The city council is asked to authorize the Mayor to execute an amendment extending the contract end date from March 31, 2025, to June 30, 2026. This extension is time-only and does not increase the contract amount, ensuring regulatory compliance and orderly project closeout.

The Department of Public Works is requesting authorization to amend the existing contract with National Water Main Cleaning Company for Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 1 (Project No. 122022-2). The original contract, awarded on May 2, 2023, for $6,923,630, is set to expire on November 30, 2025. Approximately $500,000 remains available under the contract. The proposed amendment is a time-only extension, seeking to move the contract end date from November 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026. This extension is necessary to allow for the completion of remaining rehabilitation work, which is dependent on ongoing cleaning and inspection activities and must be coordinated with other city projects. The amendment does not increase the total contract amount.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) requests authorization to award a contract to County Excavating, LLC for various public works and construction equipment rentals. This contract will be for an initial two-year term with an additional one-year renewal option. The maximum expenditure for this contract is $2,000,000. Funding will be drawn from approved operating and capital fund lines, specifically including outside contracted services, emergency sewer repairs, and NYS EFC Emergency Grant Funding. County Excavating, LLC was selected as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder after a competitive bid process involving three firms. This agreement aims to ensure DPW has access to necessary equipment at competitive rates for critical services and capital projects.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is requesting authorization from the City Council to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP No. 01.26) to procure an on-call professional engineering firm. This firm will serve as the City's Owner's Representative to assist with managing multiple capital, compliance, and grant-funded initiatives. The selected firm will support project coordination, monitor schedules and costs, review contractor submissions, and ensure compliance with funding and regulatory requirements. Services will be assigned on an as-needed basis through task orders. Funding will be drawn from account A1440.405 – Engineering Office Outside Contractor Services and External Capital Federal and State Grant Funds. The DPW requests authorization to advertise the RFP, evaluate proposals, and return to the Council for contract approval.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is requesting authorization to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ No. 02.26) for large-scale infrastructure capital improvements and maintenance for the city's municipal water, stormwater, and wastewater systems. This RFQ aims to pre-qualify contractors capable of performing essential field work, including preventative and corrective maintenance, emergency response, and rehabilitation. The scope of work includes tasks such as sewer and storm drain cleaning and repair, trenchless pipeline rehabilitation, pump station maintenance, water system upkeep, lead service line replacement, and pavement restoration. This initiative is crucial for meeting obligations under a Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice and state environmental agencies, as well as complying with new federal and state regulations like the Lead Service Line Replacement requirements. The DPW seeks City Council approval to advertise the RFQ, establish a Pre-Qualified Contractors List (PQL), and to return for approval of individual contract awards as needed.

This item requests approval for Council Member Cynthia Turnquest-Jones to attend the NYCOM Winter Legislative Meeting in Albany, NY, from February 1st to 3rd, 2026. The conference provides an opportunity to engage with state and other elected officials. Notably, all costs associated with Councilmember Turnquest-Jones' attendance will be fully covered by her personally, with no financial impact to the City.

The Department of Public Safety is requesting City Council approval to authorize the Mayor to enter into a re-occurring maintenance agreement with Cummins Allison. This agreement, effective from February 19, 2026, to February 18, 2027, covers maintenance for currency and coin-handling equipment used by the Parking Bureau to count coins collected from parking meters. The cost for this one-year agreement is $1,838.00, to be funded from Budget Line A1130.416 (Technology & Upgrades).

This ordinance requests authorization for the Mayor to execute a retroactive contract renewal for city mapping services with MRB|group, Engineering, Architecture, Surveying D.P.C. The renewal covers the period from January 2, 2026, to December 31, 2026. The annual cost for these services is $25,415, payable in thirteen equal installments of $1,955.00. These funds will be allocated from budget line A1355-204.

This ordinance proposes the establishment of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and an Affordable Housing Assistance Fund Board in Mount Vernon. The core of the ordinance requires that 10% of dwelling units in future market-rate residential developments of 10 or more units must be set aside for fair and affordable housing. This policy aims to ensure that new development contributes to the city's housing affordability goals and promotes economic diversity.

To administer the program, a Mount Vernon Affordable Housing Assistance Fund Board will be established, comprising the Mayor, City Council President, Council President Pro Tem, Commissioner of Planning and Development, and Commissioner of Assessment (or their designees). This board will oversee policy, review developer contributions, and ensure compliance.

Developers can earn incentives such as density bonuses or regulatory benefits for providing community benefits like open space, reduced parking near transit, green building features, or community facility space. Alternatively, developers can satisfy their inclusionary obligation through a fee-in-lieu contribution of 5% to the Affordable Housing Assistance Fund. This fee-in-lieu option is consistent with practices in Yonkers and White Plains.

The funds generated will support various housing initiatives, including down payment assistance, preservation of existing affordable housing, gap financing for new developments, housing stock rehabilitation, and programs for workforce and senior housing.

The Mayor's Office is requesting the City Council to enact legislation to regulate land use on specific retail and storefront classifications. This request stems from a January 2024 Industrial Development Agency (IDA) proposal to limit the concentration of certain businesses due to oversaturation. The affected uses include:

• Neighborhood Convenience Stores (Corner stores/Bodegas)
• Small Box Discount Stores (Dollar stores)
• Smoke and Hookah Retail Shops
• Storefront Faith-Based Organizations
• Auto Repair Service Shops
• Liquor Stores
• Carry-out Restaurants
• Customary Personal Services

The goal is to preserve neighborhood character, ensure a sustainable economic future, and address an imbalance where these uses demand significant public safety and health resources without substantially contributing to the sales tax base. The Department of Planning and Community Development (PCD) will develop targeted regulations, potentially including special permit criteria or spacing requirements, in coordination with Corporation Counsel to ensure legality, especially concerning faith-based uses under RLUIPA. The regulations will aim to avoid negatively impacting established restaurant districts and will focus on addressing market saturation, proximity issues, and public welfare. No moratorium is anticipated as there have been few recent applications for these commercial uses.

This ordinance amends Ordinance No. 1, adopted December 10, 2025, which established updated sewer rents and refuse sustainability fees. The amendment corrects oversights in the previous ordinance regarding specific fee amounts.

Key Corrections:

• Low-Income Senior Residential Fee: Corrected from an erroneous $110 to the intended $55 per unit.
• Non-Profit Refuse Fee (0.51 acre or more): Corrected from an erroneous $1200 to the intended $725.

The Mayor's office, in consultation with the Comptroller's office, will issue refunds or credits to taxpayers who have already paid the incorrect amounts to ensure they are covered. The updated fee schedule includes:

• Sanitary Sewer Fee: $1.25 per 100 cubic feet (Minimum $18.75)
• Residential Refuse Fee: $225.00 per unit
• Low Income Senior Residential Fee: $55.00 per unit
• Non-Residential Refuse Fee: $2,350.00
• Non-Profit Refuse Fee (0.5 acre or less): $725.00
• Non-Profit Refuse Fee (0.51 acre or more): $725.00
• Non-Profit Dormitory (Family) Refuse Fee: $110.00
• Non-Profit Dormitory (SRO) Refuse Fee: $55.00