City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH ARUP FOR PHASE II OF A
NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NYSERDA)-FUNDED
PROJECT
Whereas, in correspondence dated February 3, 2026, the Commissioner of the Department of Planning & Community Development formally requested authorization for the Mayor to execute a Professional Services Agreement with ARUP for participation in Phase II of the NYSERDA-funded project focused on climate resilience, urban heat mitigation, and integration of climate considerations into the City's land use and zoning framework; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon is committed to advancing climate resilience, environmental equity, public health protections, and sustainable land use planning consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan and ongoing zoning ordinance modernization efforts; and
Whereas, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) administers grant programs that support municipalities in developing and implementing climate-informed planning and policy initiatives; and
Whereas, the City previously authorized the Mayor to execute a Letter of Commitment with ARUP, an international environmental and engineering consulting firm, in support of the City's Phase I submission to a NYSERDA-funded initiative; and
Whereas, following the successful Phase I submission, NYSERDA selected ARUP and the City of Mount Vernon to advance this initiative to Phase II, which emphasizes implementation-oriented planning, policy integration, and actionable outcomes; and
Whereas, participation in Phase II requires the execution of a formal Professional Services Agreement to define the scope of work, roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and coordination between ARUP and the City; and
Whereas, under Phase II, ARUP will work collaboratively with the City of Mount Vernon...
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