The Canandaigua City Council Planning and Finance Committees met Aug. 11 to review a detailed police operations study and approve contracts for a major water facility upgrade.
The Planning Committee heard a presentation from consultant Jarrod Burguan of the Center for Public Safety Management (CPSM) on the agency’s 157-page Police Operations and Data Report. The study analyzed the Canandaigua Police Department’s staffing, organizational structure and workload using call data, interviews, site visits and ride-alongs.
Burguan said the department is “patrol centric” and adequately staffed in patrol, recommending the addition of one full-time detective. Other recommendations included creating a strategic plan with community input, adopting a policy subscription service, implementing a master training matrix and succession plan, expanding the field training officer program, digitizing training and case management records, and considering outside background investigators.
CPSM also urged better tracking of officer activity in the CAD system, shifting the “safe car” traffic unit to patrol, and taking a data-driven approach to traffic enforcement. The report found violent crime rates have remained relatively static over the last decade while property crimes have declined.
Discussion included questions on integration with fire and EMS services, shift scheduling, and the priority level of adding a detective. Police Chief Mathew Nielsen said some recommendations are already being implemented.
The Finance Committee then approved awarding two contracts for the Water Resources Recovery Facility (WRRF) Resiliency Project. The general construction contract will go to American Contracting & Environmental Services, Inc. for $3.94 million, and the electrical contract to Hewitt Young Electric, LLC for $687,000. Both were the lowest responsible bidders, according to the Department of Public Works and project engineers Larson Design Group.
The $4.5 million project aims to increase WRRF’s wet-weather flow capacity and replace aging equipment. Including engineering, administration and contingencies, the cost remains within the bonded budget. Bonding was authorized in 2024, and grant applications are pending.
Council members sought assurance on contractor oversight. DPW Director Sarah Brown said Larson Design Group will administer the contracts, noting the firm’s past successful projects for the city. Both contract awards passed unanimously.
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