Canandaigua City Council approved a series of measures Monday aimed at protecting Canandaigua Lake, improving flood resiliency in the Sucker Brook watershed, supporting police enforcement around e-bikes and scooters, and advancing plans for Finger Lakes Community College’s Culinary Arts Center of Excellence.
The June 15 meeting also included recognition of a young resident credited with helping her family escape a house fire, a public safety concern about a Main Street crosswalk near St. John’s Episcopal Church, and updates on summer events, downtown activity, Kershaw Park and upcoming Main Street paving.
Young resident honored for fire safety response
Council began the meeting by recognizing Tallulah Kruger for actions taken during an April 15 house fire.
Canandaigua Fire Department Capt. Adam Palumbo said Kruger used lessons from the department’s Exit Drills in the Home program, known as EDITH, to stay calm and help get her family safely out of the house.
Palumbo said the fire started in the basement, one of the most dangerous locations for a residential fire. He said Kruger’s response helped firefighters quickly confirm that family members were outside and accounted for when crews arrived.
The fire department presented Kruger with a plaque and a gift bag, and council members joined her and fire officials for a photo.
Palumbo used the recognition to remind residents that modern house fires move much faster than they did decades ago because of synthetic materials used in furniture and household items. He said families may have two minutes or less to escape once a fire starts, making smoke alarms and practiced escape plans critical.
He said the department continues year-round fire and life safety education and has already completed 15 events this year, reaching more than 1,800 adults and children.
Main Street crosswalk concern raised
During public comment, Richard Rank, representing St. John’s Episcopal Church, asked the city to help improve pedestrian safety near the church’s Main Street crosswalk.
Rank said the church serves 80 to 90 meals a day during the week and hosts services, funerals, weddings and other programs throughout the year. He said limited parking forces people to cross Main Street, where traffic often gains speed.
Rank asked whether a rectangular rapid flashing beacon could be installed to help slow or stop vehicles.
City Manager John Goodwin said he spoke with Rank before the meeting and acknowledged the crossing is difficult. However, he said the location is not ideal from a traffic safety standpoint and predicted the state Department of Transportation would likely say the crosswalk should not exist in its current form.
Goodwin said the absence of a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road creates challenges, and flashing beacons are not a full traffic control solution. Still, he said the city would sit down with church representatives and explore whether another approach could improve safety.
Council shifts how resolutions are presented
Before council began voting on resolutions, Mayor Thomas Lyon explained a procedural change in how meetings will run.
Rather than simply moving through agenda items, committee chairs will now briefly describe resolutions before council votes. Lyon said detailed discussion still occurs in committee meetings, and written materials remain available, but the new practice is intended to give the public a clearer explanation of what council is voting on during regular meetings.
Sucker Brook flood projects advance
Council unanimously approved three Environmental Committee resolutions tied to Canandaigua Lake water quality, stormwater management and flood resiliency.
The first authorized the city manager to accept permanent water quality and flood resiliency easements from several property owners in the Sucker Brook subwatershed. The easements cover portions of properties on North Pearl Street, Ellis Place and Bristol Street.
Councilmember Doug Merrill said the easements are being granted voluntarily and do not involve payment to the property owners. They will allow the city to construct, inspect, maintain and repair stormwater management facilities and related infrastructure on designated portions of the properties.
The work is part of a broader effort to reduce peak stormwater flows, lessen flooding impacts on nearby roads and properties, and protect water quality in Canandaigua Lake.
Merrill said the city is grateful to the property owners for agreeing to participate in projects that benefit both individual properties and the broader watershed.
City seeks more state funding for Sucker Brook
Council also authorized the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council to apply for additional Environmental Bond Act funding for the next phase of Sucker Brook flood resiliency work.
Merrill said the city, watershed council and Colliers Engineering and Design completed a phase one hydraulic analysis of the Sucker Brook watershed in 2025. That study, funded by a $127,500 state Local Waterfront Revitalization Program grant, identified projects intended to reduce flood risk and improve water quality.
The city and watershed council previously secured $2.65 million in state implementation funding for several projects identified in the study.
The new resolution allows the city to seek additional funding through the state’s Consolidated Funding Application process for priority projects not included in the initial award. Applications are due June 26.
The grants require a 10% local match. Merrill said the city has committed up to $500,000, while Friends of Canandaigua Lake has committed $430,000, giving the city enough matching funds to support both the existing grant and potential phase two funding.
Barnes Gully parcel to be protected
The third environmental resolution authorizes the city to purchase and immediately resell a 13-acre parcel along Barnes Gully in the Town of Canandaigua.
The city will purchase the property from the town for $340,000 using funds from a state Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program grant, then sell it back to the town for the same amount.
Merrill called it an unusual transaction but said it is structured to satisfy grant requirements while ensuring the property remains under town stewardship.
The parcel is adjacent to Onanda Park and contains more than 3,000 feet of forested stream corridor along Barnes Gully, an important tributary to Canandaigua Lake. Officials said the property had been at risk of residential development and was identified as a high-priority parcel for source water protection.
The property will be permanently protected as open space with passive, low-impact recreational use.
Police e-bike approved for enforcement
Council unanimously approved spending $6,650 from the city’s police asset seizure and forfeiture reserve to purchase a police e-bike.
Councilmember Erich Dittmar said the request came from the Ordinance Committee after an increase in complaints and code violations involving e-bikes and e-scooters, particularly downtown and along city sidewalks.
The e-bike will be added to the police bike patrol and is intended to help officers respond more quickly in areas where patrol cars and traditional bicycles are less effective.
Lyon added that the police chief previously briefed the committee on state rules governing electric bicycles. He said e-bikes are not allowed on city sidewalks unless specifically authorized by the local jurisdiction, and similar restrictions apply to hiking and biking trails unless otherwise posted.
FLCC culinary center easements approved
Council also approved easements needed for the planned Finger Lakes Community College Culinary Arts Center of Excellence project in the former Pinnacle North area.
Councilmember Guy Turchetti said Ontario County is partnering with the Canandaigua Area Development Corporation on the project. To move it forward, the city needed to approve sewer and pedestrian easements crossing the property, as well as future easement changes tied to modifications of a city parking lot north of the gas station off Muar Street.
Turchetti said the Planning Committee reviewed the easement schematics on June 8 and determined the proposal was in the city’s best interest.
The approval includes conditions requiring that ADA-accessible parking spaces be moved closer to Kershaw Park and that any unrestricted parking spaces removed from the city lot be replaced in the new parking areas.
Final easement documents must still be reviewed and approved by the city manager and corporation counsel before execution.
Lyon recused himself from the vote because Ontario County’s planning department, where he works, has been involved in the project. Councilmember Sim Covington also abstained because he works at FLCC. The resolution passed without opposition from voting members.
Baker Park grant, Main Street paving and Kershaw swim beach discussed
In his manager’s report, Goodwin said the city submitted a New York Plays grant application for a new playground at Baker Park.
He also said the state Department of Transportation plans to repave Main Street in late July or early August. Work is expected to occur mostly at night, one lane at a time, allowing traffic to continue moving with some minor inconvenience.
Goodwin also announced that the Kershaw Park swim beach is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. He urged residents and visitors to swim only at the beach, where lifeguards are on duty, rather than near the public dock or in areas with heavy boat traffic.
Summer events and downtown activity highlighted
Goodwin also reviewed a long list of upcoming events and downtown updates provided by the Canandaigua Business Improvement District.
The BID recently welcomed two businesses with ribbon cuttings: State Farm Insurance, which expanded on Main Street, and Vital Garnish, a mocktail and small-bites venue at 145 South Main St.
Goodwin said All Theater is expected to open by the end of the year on Coach Street between Pinochle & Wine Bar and Peacemaker Brewing. The venue is planned as a small live theater space.
Downtown hanging baskets and planters have also been installed with Canandaigua in Bloom, and the Canandaigua Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mill Street Market Pavilion.
Central on Main is open for dining and live music on most Thursdays and Saturdays in June and July, shifting to Fridays and Saturdays beginning July 24. Upcoming performances include the Canandaigua Academy Jazz Band, Claudia Hoyser, and the Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra.
The city’s July 4 parade will begin at 10 a.m. at City Hall and continue to the waterfront. A town-sponsored community event will follow at Outhouse Park, ending with fireworks at dusk. Goodwin said no-parking signs will be posted in the Arlington Park area to help protect nearby residents during the holiday.
The city will also combine Touch-a-Truck with National Night Out from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at Kershaw Park. The event will feature city public works equipment along with police, fire and EMS vehicles.
Council enters executive session
After completing its regular agenda, council voted to enter executive session to discuss the potential acquisition of real property in the city.
No further action was taken in open session before the executive session began.
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