The City of Canandaigua’s Environmental and Ordinance Committees met Monday evening, advancing several items of local interest, including a community pickleball tournament, a virtual museum installation at Kershaw Park, and infrastructure upgrades at the city’s water treatment facility.
Pickleball fundraiser for local youth moves forward
Committee members gave conditional approval to a special event application for the inaugural Dyls Pickleball Tournament, proposed for July 20 or August 3 at Sonnenberg Park. The event is intended as a fundraiser for the Dylan Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, honoring a Canandaigua Academy graduate who passed away from cancer.
Julia Ippolito, who presented the application, said the event would feature 32 teams in a double-elimination format, two to three food trucks, raffle prizes, and games for children. Organizers expect 150 to 200 attendees.
Concerns from residents and council members centered on traffic, noise, generator use, and whether the event would set a precedent for large tournaments at the park.
Councilmembers ultimately voted to forward the application to the full City Council with stipulations:
- No on-street parking near the venue, with designated parking at Canandaigua Middle School.
- Volunteers must assist with traffic management and signage.
- No amplified music or diesel generators from food trucks.
- The event must conclude by 6 p.m.
Committee members emphasized the unique, local nature of the event. “We definitely don’t want to invite outside tournaments,” Chair Erich Dittmar said, calling the fundraiser “a way to honor a community member.”
Water treatment plant skylight replacement funded
Council also supported a $78,000 contract with Aventus for the replacement of aging skylights at the city’s Water Treatment Plant pump house on West Avenue. The skylights will be replaced with equipment hatches that preserve rooftop access for large machinery.
The item was already budgeted for in the city’s 2025 capital plan. City Manager John Goodwin noted that skylights in facilities like the pump house are prone to leaks, and the upgrade will prevent future water damage to vital infrastructure.
Virtual museum exhibit planned at Kershaw Park
The committee gave the green light for installation of a new sign at the east end of Kershaw Park, part of the Finger Lakes Virtual Museum project—a collaboration between Ontario County, the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, and Rochester Institute of Technology.
The new interactive exhibit will explore the Canandaigua Lakefront’s evolution, from Native American heritage to the steamboat era and 20th-century public parks. A QR code on the sign will direct users to an augmented reality (AR) experience on their mobile devices.
The exhibit will be placed carefully to avoid detracting from an existing Native American monument near the entrance to the park. The sign is being provided through a grant and will be installed by city staff.
Dumpster encroachment agreement advances
In the Ordinance Committee session, council advanced an agreement with the owners of West Avenue Plaza regarding a 1.5-foot encroachment of their dumpster enclosure onto city-owned land at 50 Greig Terrace.
Originally framed as an encroachment license, the request may be converted into an easement to resolve long-term title concerns for the property owners. While Council agreed the intrusion was minimal and did not interfere with a nearby pedestrian trail, they requested a revised agreement before final approval.
Ongoing discussion: Prior written notice law
The committee also continued discussion on adopting a local law defining acceptable forms of written notice for defects or hazards in public infrastructure, which could affect municipal liability. The discussion follows a court ruling in Albany related to digital complaint platforms.
Council is considering specifying that only physical written notice delivered to designated officials will trigger legal responsibility for unresolved issues. However, some members advocated for improving public awareness and access to reporting mechanisms, like adding online instructions for submitting formal notices.
No formal vote was taken, but discussions will continue as staff explore ways to balance legal protection with responsive governance.
Next steps
Each item will be reviewed again at the full City Council meeting scheduled for later this month, where final approvals may be granted.
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