Geneva City Council will consider new water and sewer rates, extending the city’s lodging tax to short-term rentals and the next steps in a government restructuring proposal when it meets Wednesday, Nov. 4.
The amended meeting agenda also includes a proposed city manager search process, a discussion of veterans property tax exemptions and setting a hearing on the city’s housing rehabilitation program. The public meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the second-floor Council Chambers at City Hall, 47 Castle St.
An executive session to discuss the employment of a particular person is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The regular meeting includes time for public comment, the mayor’s report and council updates.
Water and sewer rates would change Jan. 1
The water and sewer proposals are on the agenda for second readings after public hearings held Oct. 20. Both would establish usage blocks, minimum quarterly charges and separate capital investment charges for service billed on and after Jan. 1, 2027.
City officials tie the proposals to a rate study examining service costs, long-term infrastructure needs and how those costs are divided among customers.
Water usage would be charged in three blocks: the first 12,000 gallons, gallons 12,001 through 24,000, and gallons above 24,000. Inside-city rates would be $0.00700, $0.00840 and $0.01008 per gallon, respectively. Outside-city and wholesale customers would pay $0.00980, $0.01176 and $0.01411 per gallon for the same blocks.
For a five-eighths-inch water meter, the minimum quarterly charge would be $42 inside the city and $58.80 for outside-city or wholesale service, with a 6,000-gallon minimum allowance. Separate quarterly capital charges would be $3 inside the city and $3.75 outside or wholesale.
A three-quarter-inch water meter would carry a $63 inside-city minimum or an $88.20 outside-city or wholesale minimum, with a 9,000-gallon allowance. Its quarterly capital charge would be $4.50 inside the city and $5.63 outside or wholesale.
The proposed sewer structure uses the same three consumption blocks. Inside-city sewer rates would be $0.01015, $0.01218 and $0.01462 per gallon; outside-city rates would be $0.01269, $0.01523 and $0.01827.
For a five-eighths-inch meter, the sewer minimum would be $60.90 inside the city and $76.13 outside, with a 6,000-gallon allowance. Separate quarterly sewer capital charges would be $12 and $15, respectively.
A three-quarter-inch meter would have a $91.35 inside-city sewer minimum or a $114.19 outside-city minimum, with a 9,000-gallon allowance. Quarterly sewer capital charges for that meter would be $18 inside the city and $22.50 outside.
Both proposals include schedules for larger meters through 8 inches. The capital investment charges would be added to other applicable water and sewer charges. The sewer local law would take effect upon filing with the secretary of state, with its rates and charges beginning Jan. 1.
Short-term rentals face lodging tax vote
Council will also take up a second reading of a local law extending Geneva’s existing room occupancy tax to short-term rentals.
The proposal would add short-term rentals to the definition covering tourist homes, inns, hotels and motels. It would also remove the exemption for establishments with fewer than three rentable units.
Mayor Jim Cecere’s briefing argues that short-term rentals compete with lodging businesses already subject to the tax and should help pay for municipal services used by overnight visitors. The city says the amount of additional revenue would depend on rental activity and the volume of stays.
The proposal drew concern at the Oct. 7 public hearing. Lochland Road short-term rental operator Scott Michael questioned the additional burden and urged the city to take a broader approach to taxation rather than focus on one type of business.
If adopted, the local law would take effect upon filing with the New York secretary of state.
Charter changes would alter comptroller oversight
Two proposed charter amendments are scheduled for first readings, with separate resolutions to set Nov. 17 public hearings at 7 p.m. Cecere’s proposed schedule calls for second readings and final votes Dec. 2.
One amendment would retain the city manager’s designation as chief executive officer and add chief administrative officer and principal adviser to the mayor and council. The draft changes the title sentence without rewriting the manager’s 14 enumerated duties.
The other would give council the authority to appoint the city comptroller and remove that officer by a majority vote of the full council. The manager would participate in selecting the comptroller, who would continue to head the Finance Department and appoint its staff under the charter.
The comptroller would report directly to council on the city’s financial condition, including cash, debt, reserves, audits, investments and financial performance.
The proposed law also sets a process for budget disputes between the manager and comptroller. A dispute would first go to the mayor, whose role would be limited to facilitating a resolution. If it remains unresolved after 10 business days, either official could take it to council for further policy direction.
That provision addresses a question raised during the October discussion about how the two officials would resolve disagreements. Councilmember Ben Gummoe had questioned the proposed reporting arrangement and whether process changes could address the problem.
Cecere’s revised recommendations preserve the existing division of budget responsibilities: the manager prepares and administers the budget, while the comptroller assists in preparing it. Earlier language expanding the comptroller’s role in budget administration and implementation has been removed.
The amendments would leave existing charter provisions placing certain comptroller functions under the manager’s supervision or direction in place. Those provisions would be referred to a charter revision commission anticipated to begin work in December.
The draft laws would take effect on the later of Jan. 1, 2027, or filing with the secretary of state. Transition language would preserve prior acts and existing employees’ employment status, compensation and accrued rights. The comptroller serving Dec. 31 would continue as a council appointee under the new arrangement.
Advisory committees and unresolved questions
The broader restructuring proposal includes four standing advisory committees: Finance; Planning and Economic Development; Housing; and Boards and Commissions. It also calls for a governance manual.
Cecere proposes establishing those elements by council resolution. The committees would advise council, with no authority to direct staff, approve spending or exercise legislative or executive powers.
Council is being asked to decide whether committee service should be unpaid, carry a stipend or include expense reimbursement. Cecere is also seeking direction on whether to leave the manager’s 14 duties as written or review and revise them, either now or through the charter revision commission.
Other questions include whether the manager’s role in selecting the comptroller should be narrowed or removed, and how much staff time the new liaison, agenda and reporting work would require. Cecere asks the acting manager’s office to estimate that workload before Nov. 17 and the city attorney to reconcile intersecting charter and code provisions before Dec. 2.
The proposed public review schedule calls for draft committee resolutions, the governance manual resolution and revised local law text to be posted by a Nov. 10 target. A summary of public feedback and resulting changes would be posted before the December vote.
Search plan targets a new manager in February
A separate search briefing asks council to approve a seven-member voting committee chaired by the mayor. It would include two council members selected by the mayor, three community members and one city staff member. Human resources would provide nonvoting support for recruitment, compliance, checks and onboarding.
Community members, taken together, would bring business, economic development, neighborhood, housing, education, nonprofit, finance, operational and public management perspectives, while reflecting Geneva’s geographic and demographic diversity.
Nominations, including self-nominations, would open through the mayor’s office and city website Nov. 5 and close Nov. 18 under the proposal. The mayor and the two council members would review community nominations, and council would confirm the full committee by Dec. 2. Members would sign confidentiality agreements before reviewing candidates. Council still needs to decide how the staff representative would be chosen.
The draft candidate profile emphasizes economic development and organizing city government under the proposed structure. Priorities include downtown vitality, business retention and recruitment, tourism, housing and coordination with county and regional development agencies.
The next manager would also be expected to develop the city’s organizational structure, succession planning, performance dashboard and reporting schedule. Financial management, labor relations, community engagement and effective work with council are additional priorities.
Proposed qualifications include senior local government executive experience and a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s in public administration, business, planning or a related field preferred. Experience with council-manager government is preferred, and a New York municipal background would be a plus. Human resources would recommend the salary range and minimum qualifications by Nov. 18. The comptroller would prepare a search budget covering advertising, candidate travel, reference and background checks, possible consulting help and relocation if offered.
Council is also being asked whether to conduct the search internally, use consultant support or hire an executive search firm.
The proposed recruitment start date needs to be settled. The search briefing calls for posting the position around Dec. 7, after the Dec. 2 restructuring vote. The modernization memo also presents a Nov. 6 posting with language explaining that the title and structure remain under consideration, or the alternative of waiting until after Dec. 2.
Under the search briefing’s timeline, applications would close around Jan. 8, followed by screening and virtual semifinalist interviews later in January. The committee would recommend three finalists, all of whom would visit Geneva for tours and in-person council interviews in early to mid-February. Council would make the final selection, targeting an appointment in late February 2027.
The plan allows for extending the application window to about 45 days if holiday recruitment produces too few applicants, potentially moving the appointment into March. It also calls for six weeks of onboarding and 30-, 60- and 90-day goals with the mayor and council.
Housing rehabilitation hearing proposed for Dec. 2
Council will consider scheduling a Dec. 2 hearing at 7 p.m., or as soon afterward as it can be held, on the city’s Community Development Block Grant housing rehabilitation program.
The program supports rehabilitation of substandard single-family homes owned and occupied by low- to moderate-income households. A second hearing is required when 75% of grant funds have been spent; the city expects to reach that milestone in November.
Grant coordinator Jennifer Sutton says the program is in its final three months and Geneva has already applied for another funding round. The hearing would gather feedback on the current program’s impact and administration, as well as economic and community development needs and future programs.
Completing the hearing and other reporting requirements helps keep the city eligible for future funding. Staff expect to handle the work within existing staffing levels.
Veterans exemption discussion and public participation
Council will discuss a veterans property tax exemption and consider board and commission appointments. Members are also scheduled to review minutes from the Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 budget workshops, Oct. 7 governance meeting and Oct. 20 operations meeting.
Residents can attend Wednesday’s meeting at City Hall or listen through the City of Geneva’s YouTube channel.
For the government restructuring proposal, Cecere invites comments to jcecere@cityofgenevany.gov or 315-759-4206, through council representatives, during his Tuesday office hours from 9 a.m. to noon, or at the proposed Nov. 17 public hearing.
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