The Saratoga Springs State of the City was a little different this year as each city official provided an update on where things stand in their respective departments.
That being said, one common refrain from the City Council members was the city would not operate without the city employees.
“The mayors can come and go every couple of years and the deputies can do the same, but the heart and soul of the city are the people in charge of the various departments,” said Mayor John Safford, who earned his first term in office with a victory over former mayor Ron Kim in November.
City officials took turns underscoring the accomplishments of the various departments they oversee, while also speaking briefly of goals they have for the year ahead.
Safford closed the meeting reiterating his message of harmony from inauguration day and challenged everyone to once again imagine what Saratoga Springs will look like for their children and grandchildren.
Safford is seeking to limit the amount of time it takes the majority of applicants to get a building permit in the city to anywhere from four to six weeks. The building department conducted over 2,100 inspections last year but only issued just over 800 permits.
The grand opening of the city’s third fire station is expected to take place in mid-March. Work on the facility was largely completed in 2023 and will receive final touches over the next month or so, according to Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll. Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi said the city was able to hire 16 new firefighters for the department under the SAFER Grant and has set up a reserve account to pay for those positions once the grant money is gone.
Participatory budgeting will continue in the city for a third year. A number of projects have come to fruition through the program which provides residents with an opportunity to determine which projects get funded with a portion of the city budget, including the creation of a pilot program to promote participation in the sport of curling and the addition of a water fountain for dogs in the dog park.
“Short-term rental will be regulated,” said Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran. Legislation on the matter is expected in the coming weeks. He said he plans to have more public conversations around the topic. Four community conversations have already been held.
Helping Hands, a program aimed at providing unhoused individuals an opportunity to gain workforce development skills, will continue to expand in 2024, Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub said.
Golub is also looking to implement a seasonal tourism parking program with the goal of generating revenue for the city. More is expected to come over the next couple months regarding the program.
Coll said the city has expanded its Community Engagement Officer program to two officers. The officers will meet with local businesses, residents and work with the nonprofits organizations as well as unhoused individuals.
The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 6-9 was mentioned by almost every city official as an exciting opportunity for the Spa City. Each promised to do their part to make sure the four-day event goes off without a hitch. Following the meeting Safford indicated that the city will lead communication efforts regarding the various events and organizations involved in pulling off the event.