Batavia's great, but it will take work to stop decline, make a better future, consultant says

Batavia should upgrade its entertainment venues such as the movie theater. Right now Regal and Cinemax draw people away from Genesee County. You could try and make a six screen theater to show more movies. How about establishing entertainment venues that give children of all ages something to do. I would love to see a enclosed dog park so, I could allow my dog to run free.

The dog park idea people was tried. It would have been over at Williams Park, but the group could not get enough people to fund it. The City was going to give the land, but the people would have had to pay for the fence. There was also the issue of upkeep/cleanup and how to pay for it. One idea was to add an extra fee for dog licences, but that did not go over very well.

John - are you suggesting that the city should fund a movie theatre?

Buki said the city should look seriously at starting a program -- funded by grants if they can be found -- to buy up to 100 two-family dwelling on strategic streets (Jackson would be an example), convert them back to single-family residences and sell them at fair-market value...........The tax payer is spose to spent money on this..How many new city employees will have to be hired to over see this project...How is the city spose to obtain these properties...great study....We all knew the Mall was no good ....Sounds like this will mean another tax increase next year........The city allowed those houses to be converted from single family ,now they want the city to buy them and convert them back...that idea alone was worth 60,000 dollars.......Why not first put a stop to this ..no more permits issued to convert single family to two family...No more property converted to non profit status...Lets start there that doesn't cost money..

I agree about the movie theater - I started a thread a few years ago (while still living in Batavia) about what people wanted to see. There were over 100 comments - a better movie theater being many of them. A dog park would also be a great idea and how much could this really cost to operate? I lived in Batavia for 5 years commuting to Fairport every day of those 5 years. The problem is that there is nothing to do but drink in Batavia. When I got home from a stressful job and an hour commute both ways, I didn't want to travel another hour to go to the movies or to a great restaurant. There is WAY too much of the same in Batavia - bar, pizza, diner, bar, pizza, diner etc. The other thing I think Batavia forgets is that you have some well educated wealthy people that would be happy to spend a little more money for GOOD food in an elegant atmosphere, especially if they could get a little entertainment to go with it. How about some live Jazz at one of the restaurants, or perhaps a movie that isn't geared to teenagers (by the way the teenagers don't have a problem hopping in their car to drive to Buffalo or Rochester to go to the movies because they didn't just come from there for work...so how about we target the movies to the people that actually WOULD stay in town?)

Shopping also really needs to improve - I personally think a TJ Maxx or Marshalls would be an excellent addition to Batavia. With all the development going in around the yogurt companies you are bringing in more jobs some of which I am sure will be very good paying jobs - don't sell Batavia short. The downtown area could be just as nice as any downtown. Oh and bring the damn baskets back, have businesses sponsor them and get them hanging on the light poles - it is AMAZING what beautiful flowers can do.

ok so this got me to create a new post - please view and comment here http://thebatavian.com/cheftiff/what-makes-you-leave-batavia/30593

Mark,
His idea was one (1) new person to coordinate all this. But we now have that Economic Development employee for 2 years, so I'd say redefine the job duties since there is a lot of overlap. As for the conversion of the old single family homes, that was done decades ago. Good idea back then, but that does not mean it is still a good one. Change and move on, or let the tax base deteriorate and you will pay more to make up the difference in your taxes, like you are now.

I don't think anyone is suggesting the city fund a movie theater but they should look at the possibility of finding a company willing to locate here if a study found it feasible.Also the city residents have paid for a animal park with their taxes a million times over. The city has made many neighborhood improvements........ to the codes so it is easier than ever to convert homes to apartments this has to stop do you hear the people city council..!! Every time you allow the section 8 housing in the neighborhoods slip sorry to offend but believe me I see it first hand the tenant don't care about the property and the landlord don't either cause in most cases the rent goes directly to his bank and social services pays the security deposit therefore making them responsible for damages..
In my opinion the city wants it this way just try and have one of these city inspectors do something to the slumlords for violations holy#@!$ they treat you like a criminal if you say you don't want your street turning into holland ave or raymond the city allows these slumlords but puts no teeth into the rules that regulate them.
ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE go look at the intersection of north and bank streets your tax money just got you!@#$%^ AGAIN it's not a year and a half old it's full of potholes BUT CITY MANAGER SAYS YEA WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT> DUH how about inforce the contract with the company that did it while your at it put back the curbs the idiots burried under black top on bank street....YOU get the low bids you get the !@#$# work.........
IT"S TO LATE!!!!! My home town is to far gone yep I know it..... The so called mall has been an issue for 35 years bulldozer duhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The SIDEWALKS HOLY CRAP I DARE YOU TO WALK DOWN TRACY AVENUE>THANK YOU MRS>CLATTENBURGH...

And yet nobody goes in person, face to face, and demands change. It's easy to solve the problems here on this site, but a bit harder to really do something. How many will be at council this Monday?

John do you really think that government should be in the business of rehabbing houses.....Private money is one thing...To this day the city still allows single famliy to be converted to two family..Why not stop this practice right now...She the Economic Development employee has allready been on the job for a year...With only a year left..She was spose to create new businesses for downtown not rehab houses...Scott said it all pretty good..The Mall has been and issue for years..But we needed a 60,000 dollar study to tell us ...It all about the tax rate...I will be surprised to see any of this get done.,,We will be talking about the Mall ten years from now...the same with the empty carrs building across the street...Prime land on main street for some one to store there fancy cars in...........It a building only assessed at 45,000 dollar..no tax collected on that..I agree with alot of what these people said..But the fact is we allready knew it.........Will this just be another 60,000 dollars the city spent on a study or will they act......When i see something happened with the Mall then i will know they are serious...The last council did nothing about it ........Its all about Main Street..........

I guess my biggest issue with this is that, because there is NO original thought or ideas in our city government ... and way too much bickering all of the time, our city "ELDERS" had to hire an outside company to tell us what we need to change. How about the ELDERS!

Then, what is your solution?
The mall is private property, what do you suggest? Who should do something with it?
Why not ask, in public why Carr's building is assessed low?

Batavia is not great. Batavia is mediocre and trending downward.

The average household income is lower than what it costs to raise a family, the schools are fair to middling and city leadership is made up mostly of retirees who aren't very likely to consider ways to make Batavia a place for my kids to come back to after college.

Greg,
The "Elders", are us. The council is made up of regular people, and most regular people are not willing to run, or even volunteer.

People complain about the neighborhoods, but right now the Neighborhood Improvement Committee can not get anyone to serve, for free of course. Come to a meeting and give some original thought.

Chris,
6 out of 9 council members work full time.

Buckley, Cipollone, Russell, Christian, Pacino all retired. You can still work after you're retired, but that doesn't remove your retiree status.

Other than Hawley and Doeringer are any of them putting kids through school? Are any of them really interested in changing things for the better if those changes upset their equilibrium? Would a single one of those nine look at a situation through a lens that wasn't formed by their pre-conceived notions? No, they wouldn't.

Howard, I didn't say Batavia is bad; I said it was mediocre and trending downward. I also listed some examples of why. That doesn't mean we should board up the windows, it means we need to do things differently.

Also, people don't have to show up at meetings to have an opinion. That's exactly the sort of attitude held by many people like us who are 'involved' that turns people who might like to be involved off.

I like some of the ideas coming from the consultants. Hell, I liked them years ago when local people thought of them. The problem is, and always has been, the inability of our City Council (in all of it's iterations) to take a single risk or to attempt anything innovative.

Perennially, our City Council is is a bowl of vanilla pudding quickly turning to water. That's not going to change and neither is this city.

Chris,
Russell is not retired. He sold his business and now works full time for another company. That would be like saying you're retired because you left the Air Force. Buckley still works also. And while somebody might be working after retiring from one job, you implied that they were not working at all (an honest error). But there is a large percentage of the people in Batavia who are retired, so what?

As for kids, that would have more to do with the school board, or since you have a child in school, are you claiming a special caring status?

I doubt you look past your preconceived notions any more than them.

Chris,
I have to love that as the Democratic Party election chairman, you say the 3 Democrats on City Council are "vanilla pudding quickly turning to water". And one of them just got elected. I guess if any other Dem had been elected, it would not have mattered?

On the other hand, you ran once and put yourself out there.

John i didn't get paid 60,000 dollars to tell city council that the mall was no good...CZB did...They are the ones who said it.. I agreed with them...Where was there solution on how to handle the mall..I agree with them about there being two many two family homes in batavia...I agree with them that there is to many empty store fronts on Main St..Howard why is it when CZB said it, it was great to hear and worth 60,000 dollars to hear it..But when some one on here say's the same thing they are complaining......John why do i have to ask this in public..I have written and called to talk to city officials about these issues..I have ask these questions.......Whats your point John ..We can't do anything about the Mall because its private property..Then why put in the 60,000 dollar report if there is no answer to the Mall issue..Whats the point of having paid city employees, meaning the city managers and such, if they cant address the issues that the city faces...Howard because i agree with most of what the 60,000 dollar study ,but that i don't as you say pitch in ,then i have no right to complain...How about the 1100 dollar check i send the city every year ...Does that give me any rights......I didn't realize agreeing with the study was complaining.....

Is that the new line ....Do ever complain ..Only if its paid for in a study.....I was surprised the report said nothing about the downsizing of school district.....

Mark,
Just like you, I don't think they should have paid for this study. But again, nobody spoke against it either when it was voted for. And 2 of the people who voted for it got voted out of office a few months ago.

Going public on the Carr building assesment would get more coverage and maybe an answer. I am well aware you have been asking about this, for years, but so far, you have gotten no reason for the assessment yet. That's why you should go.

John, I didn't imply they didn't work, I called them retirees. That's what they are.

Yes, Batavia has a large number of retirees. More than it's share, actually. You know why that is? It's because young people don't come back here after they leave.

Yes, I'm proudly claiming a special caring status for people who have children that they will soon be sending off to college. I'm also claiming a special caring status for their kids. Years of commentary from you has shown that you don't care about a whole lot other than having low taxes, that's fine, but you and the people who think like you approach the situation in a manner that hurts this town instead of helping it.

Shrink government, cut positions, CHARGE FOR THE GARBAGE!!!!!! None of that does a thing to stop our tax base from shrinking. None of it attracts people to live here. None of it makes the town an attractive place to buy a home. None of it helps to create a sense of identity or community.

There's a guy downtown who's trying to get an easement so he can make his place of business attractive to people from all over Western New York. You'd think BID and City Council would be tripping over each other to help him out, right? Nope.

The city created a position and hired a woman who's sole responsibility was to help businesses open or grow and TO THIS DAY, the goddamned Batavia Flat Earth Society calls her useless.

But wait, if the city runs out of ways to make people run the other way, the county is happy to step in at that point. Cancel the skydiving demonstrations! Favor trade for jobs! Shut down The nursing home (or Meals on Wheels or Genesee Justice or the RAP Hotline.)

The problem here isn't the people who don't get involved, it's the people who DO get involved. The never-ending bitching that Howard doesn't like is coming from them and they get to IMPLEMENT THE LUNACY!

People don't get involved because the people who are involved are boorish amateurs and they always get their way.

Yes, John, I am the elections chair for the county Democratic Party. So what? Ask our committee members if I hold my tongue when I talk about whether or not I think people are doing a good job. I've called our Democratic Party electeds a whole lot worse than 'vanilla pudding,' trust me.

What most of us have said, for years, for free:
The mall is a boil on the landscape of Main St.
It is a monument to the greed of several esteemed business people during the Urban Renewal Period.

What I have said for years....so, I guess, this is free too.
Batavia has no identity.
Yes, I would like to see Batavia look and feel like the Birthplace of Western New York.
That doesn't mean it has to be stogie or not relate to the younger members of the community.
I would like to see Batavia celebrate it's prime location as the industrial hub of Western New York. It could do that by embracing industry within the city limits. We will never see huge factories employing thousands of people. Robotic technology now does the work once only accomplished by assembly lines, but we can supply a workforce that will make any industry competitive and successful.
Batavia should be a destination.
Batavia is a unique small community blessed with a wealth of creative people. We have wonderful artisans who can make Batavia the place to come shop for one of a kind items, not only during the holidays, but all year long.
We have a niche for being THE place to go for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in anytime in between. We should be shouting that from the roof top.
Every tourism dollar coming into Batavia helps the entire community.
Batavia can be THE place for young families to raise their children. It should be THE place where those children settle and continue the growth of the city.
It isn't done by sitting home and complaining. It is done by getting everyone involved. Let the kids be part of reinventing the city. Involve the schools and their students in civic projects. Those projects will be the stepping stones in giving the kids 'owneship' of the city.
This city council, like the ones before it, seem to be stymied on how to light the fuse to get this going. The enthusiasm has to start there. Many are ready, willing and able to be part of a revitalization process, but the plan has to start with the council.
Without a concrete plan, no one is going to step up to be part of a committee that feels it is riding on a train to nowhere.

Chris,
You're right, I do want lower taxes, but I am willing to pay for needed services, and supported this years city budget.
In the past, I think we had unnecessary overhead at City Hall, like the Engineer, and that has been changed.
I was against the hiring of the Economic Development Coordinator because nobody could/would tell me what the bench marks are for the job having been considered sucessful. This study finally gives criteria for such a job now.
I do not think taxing garbage pickup by value of your house is right, but should be a flat rate with a private contractor or based on the amount you put out. What is wrong with that?
I have no problem with school or library taxes, but don't like the excessive spending I believe was too common in the past. That seems to be changing, but we'll see this year.

Bea, good post.

John, you know what all those things you care so much about have in common? None of them have any bearing on whether or not a 27 year old thinking about starting a career and a family would choose to move here.

I feel like this is an unending discussion where everyone seems to be having two debates, one on broad changes and one on specifics. The truth of the matter is that both sides are right, yes, we need to look specifically at ways to shrink overhead, cut costs and not be wasteful (John). That being said, the other side (Chris) is also right that we need to change the way we look at our City, and that will come from fresh blood and new perspective on Council.

I ran for City Council in the last election and was defeated, my opponent in the primary, Katie Bellamy and I had some policy differences but we both were young, forward thinking and had new ideas on where to take our City. I think that our primary brought out the best in both of us and even though I wanted to win, I was hopeful that she would go on to win the general election. This doesn't end with young people, Bill Cox was another example of a forward thinking leader, you didn't always agree with him, but he was a living idea factory who was always looking under every rock for ways to improve our City Government. Neither of the three of us ran in a 'traditional' mold. We all lost.

I think that some people cry and clamor for change, but some do not really seek progress, they seek going backwards. Batavia is a rust belt city, and like the rest of the rust belt, there is no going backwards for us, only forwards, attempts to go backwards will only lead to stalling where we are and decay. I think that if we are going to move forward, we have to actually move forward, and stop thinking about Batavia in the context of the 'good old days' and start thinking about the Batavia of tomorrow. This doesn't mean age discrimination, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't learn from the past, but we cannot recreate it.

I hope that as this City struggles to find it's identity, as Bea pointed out, we end our reliance on nostalgia as governing policy. Start thinking outside of the box, make investments in our quality of life, cut costs, ease zoning laws, bring in investors and developers and encourage creativity. Take advantage of the assets we have, talented people like City Manager Jason Molino; enthusiastic entrepreneurs like Tim Walton, Rob Credi and Ken Mistler; neighborhood leaders like Bill Blackshear; our beautiful downtown buildings and our city parks.

Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian has been one of my heroes for some time, and if there's one thing she's taught me, it's that sometimes you have be tough enough to lay it on the line, so here it is, stop with the pessimism. Yes, we have problems, we can fix them. We are better than we make ourselves out to be. This is our time.

Speaking as someone who's actually in the tourism business, Batavia is decades away from being a travel destination on its own, if it ever will be at all. Taking a "splatterball" approach isn't likely to help much either. The magical committee that is going to solve all your troubles needs to build upon current known successes, preferably within the county, with specified attainable short, mid-range, and long term goals in mind. I'd recommend the first thing that is done is to stop the nonsense about keeping the County Tourism Office downtown and let them move out by the Thruway exit.

As far as Batavia being known as THE place to eat, I don't think so. I've been interacting with our guests from near and far on almost a daily basis for 30 years and in all that time there are only 4 eating establishments in Batavia that have ever been mentioned to me more than once or twice by non-county residents; "Alex's", "The Polka Dot", "Sport of Kings", and "Tully's". If you widen the circle a bit you can add in "The Red Osier" and the "D & R Depot". You're welcome to think otherwise but I make it my business to know the best places to eat in this Tourism Region and all I can say is, you aren't setting the bar very high.

I am on a committee that is working to bring a world tournament to Buffalo in 2014. These people will be in our area for a week and my goal is to make sure that they spend some of their free time and their money in Genesee Co. Not just at the amusement park, but in Batavia.
The other major city vying for this tournament already has a tourism plan in place. This includes hotels, camping facilities, restaurants, and a plan for places to go and things to see - not just in their city but in the surrounding area. They were able to do this because all of the surrounding areas bought into the plan.
We are coming late to this party and have a lot to do to get this bid. It is difficult to promote our area when one realizes that negativity is so prevalent. Yet, as our plan becomes more solid, I'll be working hard to promote Genesee Co. and Batavia as a place to visit and/or to kick off a day trip to Letchworth, for example..
Kevin, if I take your post to heart, then I should just fold my tent and leave.
However, don't be surprised if I don't give you a call and ask if we can arrange something at Letchworth. It could very well be the highlight of the week.

Bea,
What tournament is up for grabs?

I don't post much on here anymore, but I read it pretty frequently. This is one topic that is very important to me, because it affects me every day of my life. I'm 25, my husband is 29, and as of right now, we won't stay in Batavia.

I'm proud to bring people into my new home city. We have some fantastic restaurants and facilities here. I was married at St. Mary's and had our reception at Terry Hills. We had our guests stay at the Best Western. We had several people from out of town comment on how beautiful and nice everything was. We agree. We love our house and our neighbors. We love the variety of food and stores that are offered.

However, we don't love more than what we do love. The traffic patterns try desperately to punish truck traffic, which hampers our commute to and from Rochester every day. Our trash/recycling service has SO MANY rules and then doesn't recycle half of what can be recycled in Monroe County. Because of city rules, I can't have a compost pile (because of how our lot sits, in line of sight from several side walks), which just creates more trash. Side walks and roadways are not taken care of and so there isn't always a safe place to walk the dog. Roads are not plowed in a timely fashion, and so we've had several incidents of property damage.

Another problem with Batavia is that there is a lack of community for outsiders. It is extremely difficult to break into community activities (we brought our very friendly dog to a city activity, hoping it would help break the ice and someone might be interested in meeting us, but people avoided us even more). City-wide functions are not always publicized well and in order to join volunteer organizations it can take money, which may be hard to come by. There are few sports organizations to join, such as co-ed adult softball or kickball or soccer. If we want to join those, we drive to Chili or Henrietta or Avon.

I wish I could go to the meetings on Monday, but one of those sports actually takes place on Monday evening in Greece. I really hope the community can come together. I would love to take part in community activities like garden tours or dog park fundraising. Just because it's be tried in the past and failed, doesn't mean it will fail again. I seriously hope Batavia can turn around, but we're still planning on finding a community that is welcoming to young families.

Not for nothing Chelsea but your husband didn't do much on this site to endear himself to the community. Among other things, he said that the two of you were too busy to shovel the sidewalk in front of your house and if people didn't like it they could walk somewhere else. It was pointed out that children walking to school may have a difficult time with that but he really didn't care. You say that "Side walks and roadways are not taken care of and so there isn't always a safe place to walk the dog." What about children? Are they supposed to walk in the street?

Yawn
Peter has threatened to leave for at least two years now, even before the reconstruction of the street and fact that it caused a great deal of inconvenience for your wedding.
Beth beat me to it about the shoveling. That comment about kids and old people using the street because he was too tired to shovel, after a day of creating wealth, was one most won't forget.

Bea, what is it you are trying to bring?

John,
Our committee is still in the planning stages. When we have all our ducks in a row, I'll publish it.
In the meantime, I will be working hard to make sure Genesee Co. is included. Although I'm sure that Buffalo has enough hotel rooms for what will be needed, I'd like to direct overflow to Batavia. I'm hoping to have people look east to our area for camping sites.
There are two Buffalo venues under consideration for this event's location. Batavia/Genesee Co. will be more in play for one than the other as a surrounding area to visit.
We've attended other events like this and the list of things to do their steering committees put together is outstanding from area tours to rock climbing, historical and cultural sites, and more.

You never disappoint to misconstrue a post. Critical observations are just that and nothing more. Batavia, by itself right now and into the immediate foreseeable future, is not a tourism destination on its own. With a purposeful, well-thought out plan being implemented it can be one part of Genesee County working towards becoming such however.

I understand having the civic pride that would make one say; "we are the best" but facts need to support such a claim in order for it to be taken seriously. For example, hypothetically "Larry's Steakhouse" could claim to have "The Best Steak You'll Ever Eat", but where is the supporting evidence to back it up? Do well-respected food critics agree? What does "Zagat's" say about it? Are there numerous rave reviews on "Trip Advisor" from people who've dined there that share the sentiment? In comparison, "Oliver's" can indeed say they make some of the best chocolate in the country because that is a verifiable statement. Think back to what the consultant said previously about some of the businesses on Main Street having home-made, hand-written signs in their windows. Locals may disagree with that critical observation, and apparently some do since the signs are still there. However, that doesn't change the fact that to someone new traveling into Batavia, those signs look unprofessional and present a poor image of those businesses.

As far as you deeming ACO not being worthy of this group you're trying to bring to Batavia because you personally feel slighted by my observations; that's your decision to make and I can abide by it one way or the other. The fact is, ACO may not even be a good fit for this group for a variety of reasons. As an example, we typically decline to be part of an itinerary for tour bus companies coming to Wyoming County with Senior Citizens. The Attica & Arcade Railroad on the other hand welcomes them in droves since they are a much better fit for that customer base. Maybe they are an incredibly adventurous thrill-seeking bunch. Our river trip at the park in the summer would be a big disappointment to them however, the Niagara Jet Boat would be perfect. There's also the matter of seasonal weather patterns. If this group is coming in mid-summer, making firm plans for a couple hundred people to go rafting at Letchworth State Park on a specific day or two is a very bad idea as it is quite possible there may not be enough water in the gorge to do so.

Knowing what makes ACO special enough to warrant thousands and thousands of our guests to choose to paddle with us each and every year also means being able to discern what we're not. For any business or entity to be genuinely successful, that is key and more often than not, it also is the reason they fail.

Kevin,
I appreciate your views.
This group has gone rock climbing; hiked national parks, diamond mined in Arkansas, and enjoyed other national attractions. They are not a quiet, sit and have tea group.
It sounds as if whatever the group is, it isn't welcome by ACO and I can accept that. Yes, they are only here for a week and we'll find enough for them to do.

"It sounds as if whatever the group is, it isn't welcome by ACO......"

That would be YOUR interpretation of my post, but is not what I wrote. Unless of course the group falls into one of the two specific examples I did cite.

The group falls in neither you cited.
Funny, you should use Larry's as an example. We invited the heads of the steering committee for dinner at Larry's about a month ago. They were impressed with the food, the location, and charmed by the service. Maybe it hasn't made the big time as far as critical acclaim is concerned, but it certainly will make their list of restaurants.

They spent the night at the hotel where our planning meeting was held the following day. Why have the meeting in Batavia? It is centrally located. It offered the amenities we needed, and, on a very selfish note, it gave them a glimpse of what we have here.

Letchworth will also be on that list. So will ACO and folks can decide if it is something they would like to do. The object is to offer as many different options as possible for a diverse group of people.

First off, Don't attack my wife for my comments.

Second she was commenting on the state of the sidewalks not the state of the snow removal. That snow removal is the city's job not mine. We pay for it and we have seen the tractor that does it. Its is the lowest priority and should be someone's main job.

Third, I have put my money where my mouth is and tried to run for the 26th Congressional district.

Fourth, Now that I have a snow blower my sidewalk gets done about 80% of the time by me and the other 20% by my neighbor.

And Beth, your children can walk in the bike lane on 63, I am sure that is perfectly safe....

Actually snow removal from sidewalks IS your job Peter:

§ 159-8. Snow on sidewalks.
A. Responsibility. The owner, occupant or lessee of any lot or lands adjoining any public sidewalk shall keep the same free from snow, slush or ice. In case of failure or neglect to comply with this requirement within 24 hours following any storm depositing such snow, slush or ice, such may be removed by the Department of Public Works at the direction of the Director of Public Works. Failure to complete such removal shall not be deemed an act of negligence by the City of Batavia. Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. Cindering, sanding. In the event that snow, slush or ice may become frozen on sidewalks in such a way that removal is difficult or injurious to sidewalks, the sidewalks shall be rendered safe for public travel by use of cinders, sand or other suitable materials and shall be properly cleaned thereafter when weather permits. If any owner, occupant or lessee of lots or lands abutting sidewalks fails to comply with this requirement, the walks shall be rendered safe by the Department of Public Works and thereafter cleaned at the direction of the Director of Public Works. Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. Work performed by Department of Public Works. Any work performed by the Department of Public Works pursuant to this section shall be charged against the property owner and shall be billed and collected by the Clerk-Treasurer. Such charge shall be a lien on the adjoining realty to the same extent as city taxes, and may be included in the general city tax roll and enforced in the same manner as other city taxes. All actual items of work, including labor and materials, plus an administrative and supervisory expense of 50% thereof, shall be charged; provided, however, that the minimum charge for each occurrence shall be $5 per lot or parcel of land. Editor's Note: Former Section 44.10, Telephone facilities on public streets, which immediately followed this section, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Peter,
Snow removal on sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner, not the City. The City does have a sidewalk plow that they use when they can. And when they do, it is around the schools first.

Bea,
Sorry, didn't know this tournament group was a secret.

Hmmm as for the sidewalk issue maybe the city should go the route 90% of cities I have seen have done in urban areas. Lets take Ithaca for instance which gets the same if not more snow, and has a high occurance of rental properties vs owner occupied. There in Ithaca and all of the surrounding townships you have 24 hours to clear your sidewalks. If not then you are written a ticket for a property violation. If it remains further then it is clear for you and you are billed for the city workers time. You dont pay any of these it's then billed with your taxes. They also do the same with sidewalk maintenence, cracked and upheaved sidewalks are taken care of by the property owners.

This encourages a sense of community, also takes some financial concerns from the city and allow for enconomic activity from snow removal comapies and sidewalk contractors. If property owners are belligerent then the city does the work and bills them.

Mr. Obrien if your wife want to post comments here then she will have comments made on them, its part of the way a forum works if she doesnt like it then maybe she should reconsider posting. Secondly the bike lane on 63/Ellicot St is for bikes and traffic, walking in the roaday, especially for children is supposed to be done on a sidewalk. To advocate otherwise make statements about a person's ignorance. Could be why your run for 26th district was unsucessful. Maybe you should aim lower and try for city or county gvt first.

Comment on my wife's comments all you want, but don't attack her for mine. We are separate people with separate opinions and shouldn't be held accountable for the words of the other.

The comment about walking in the street was to show how dangerous and stupid the idea of having a bike like on a state highway is. I didn't realize that you couldn't tell sarcasm from the text statement standard of using dots to portray this.

It was unsuccessful because I didn't/don't have the money of Jane Corwin and had no way to procure funds.

Why would I run for a city council seat in a city that based on what I read here isn't interested in anything I have to say?

Peter - We don't ever agree politically, but I'm glad that you and Chelsea are in Batavia and I hope you will decide to stay, I hope that you will advocate for what you think will make Batavia great and that we all can have a good conversation about the Batavia of the future. I think that you both have some valid points on the lack of activities for 20 somethings (or at least the lack of publicity for those activities), and as a 20 something myself, I agree. I do think that we do have some assets for people in our generation, we have great bars and some summer activities like the concerts in Jackson Square. I do think, though, that we can do better and I think that a discussion on that subject is something that we need to have.

Beth,
Since they already run the tractor with the plow regardless of if I am clearing the snow or not. And they are not billing people who had snow on their sidewalk, I can assume that I am being billed by my taxes to have that snow removed. Therefore why should I do it?

Read section C. They are doing the work anyways and not billing people so they have taken the responsibility.

I read the report on the city web site..I agree with alot of what it says..It was made up of alot of 2010 census data..... Surprised there was no mention of what to do with Dywer Stadium....That multi -used stadium as it was sold to all of us , that will cost the city for years to come..If there is a good chance that the team will be sold and moved the city will need to address this sooner rather than later....