Stephanie DiGiorgio · Utica Common Council Records

Activity over time

January 21, 2026 June 17, 2026

Talks most about

property 16 application process 8 public hearing 8 ordinance 12 flag raising 7 believe 11 specific 10 sent 10 zoning code 6 proclamation 9 government speech 5 battery energy 5 energy storage 5 far 8

Meeting appearances

The bar under each meeting marks when they spoke during it.

Common Council Meeting with Committee of the Whole Meeting June 17th, 2026

June 17, 2026 14m 36s speaking 7% of speaking time 74 remarks

Common Council Meeting with Committee of the Whole Meeting February 4th, 2026

February 4, 2026 13m 32s speaking 11% of speaking time 61 remarks

Common Council Meeting January 21st, 2026

January 21, 2026 58s speaking 1% of speaking time 2 remarks

Frequent dialogue partners

Immediate transcript handoffs around Stephanie DiGiorgio: who speaks next, and who Stephanie DiGiorgio answers.

They reply Stephanie DiGiorgio replies

Samantha Colosimo-Testa 52 handoffs · 3 meetings 29 / 23 balanced Jack LoMedico 34 handoffs · 2 meetings 18 / 16 balanced Joseph Betar 27 handoffs · 3 meetings 13 / 14 balanced Katie Aiello 24 handoffs · 2 meetings 11 / 13 balanced Rocco Giruzzi 22 handoffs · 3 meetings 11 / 11 balanced Joseph Betrus, Jr. 21 handoffs · 2 meetings 9 / 12 balanced Marques Phillips 14 handoffs · 2 meetings 5 / 9 Stephanie DiGiorgio replies more Venice Ervin 13 handoffs · 1 meeting 9 / 4 Venice Ervin replies more

What they said

Stephanie DiGiorgio 12:44

I mean, I can just touch— I mean, I'm not familiar with ROAMs. I wasn't sure what tonight's meeting was. So I don't have ROAMs in front of me to be able to know.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 13:02

But just generally speaking, I guess I'll touch on two things. We probably would have an issue as well with not knowing where property lines are and determining whose property taxes it would go on for the abatement. That would be the first thing. The second thing, I know Mark— Marcus mentioned about obviously entering on people's property. Typically when we go on city property— excuse me, when we go on private property to do work, either the owner gives us permission in some way, shape, or form. So if we have sewer repairs or any other, you know, easements or anything else that we need to get on people's property, typically we go on and either have them sign a consent form or we have some authority to go on. But usually we're in communication with the property owner. Generally speaking, the only thing that I can compare this specific abatement to is much like we do our demolitions of houses. And generally speaking, when we do those, we also have some form of an order granting us the ability to do that. Either that's a court order through an order of show cause, or if there's extraordinary circumstances that allow us to go on the property, we have that ability to do as well. It's not the best because there's no clear order saying we can go on this property and remove it. I'd be a little bit leery about trees and making determinations because we are starting to go more towards, you know, I'm going to call it providing a private service, much like we have a lot of places within the city that want us— want police to provide private security.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 17:06

And again, just with respect to that point, and I don't know too much without doing like a more deep dive as far as liability and all of that, but you're starting to run into the, you know, we touch the tree, if something happens after we cut the tree, is that our problem?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 19:05

Hold on, hold on. Joe, you guys are talking about two different things. If we go and abate the tree, there's a specific, whatever the costs, whatever the abatement costs that we put in, we ask for as far as a court procedure, and then it gets put on the taxes. Or if you're talking about just a code violation, whatever the figure is for a violation, if you're violating a code, So if the code says you can't ride the scooter on the street and it's a $250 fine if you do it and you're found, um, guilty of that, then that's what that is. So if that's what you're talking about with respect to the trees, those are two totally different—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 20:01

you know what I mean? And I mean, I'll just say, I mean, there are arborists. I mean, there are people who make determinations as to what trees are healthier and which not. You can hire an arborist, and you can bring actions much like you can for anything else to settle trees and disputes against private owners, I guess. And I don't want to go too far into the practical sense, and I don't think Marques did either, but you're talking, you know, manpower and ability, even if we're contracting to do it, be able spending those funds to do all of these things on top of taking on the additional liability, because I can almost guarantee if the arborist is making those decisions, even if we're contracting it out, the city is going to be assuming some liability to do that.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 23:50

So the only, and again, I don't know, I mean, Marques talked to Rome. I don't know, do they cut, you know, this just got passed, have they cut one tree or is this in the last 3 months they've cut 100?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 24:22

If they don't— it goes on the taxes and they don't pay it, they lose their house.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 25:03

As an individual, you have that right entirely.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 25:07

It's your right to say that.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 25:17

It's the same thing if a neighbor said you built a shed on my piece of property. It's the same thing if, you know, anything with respect to a neighbor dispute, you can send a letter and you can institute any kind of civil action against them for that. You don't need, I mean, even some of the other stuff, I mean, you know, icicles, other things that we the city do, you know, you can institute action to force or compel things to be—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 25:55

I'm not going to give legal advice as far as a private cause of action, but as far as just being able to take action, you can— there's a number of ways that you as a private homeowner can take action against a neighbor that has nothing to do with the city.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 26:25

That was my point about becoming— we're becoming a private service, and the city is not supposed to be a private service. So yes, we do a number of abatement things, but there are certain hazards that we do.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 26:37

But as Marcus said, the more you push that line of hazard, the more you're expending resources to address private concerns that are not city concerns. I mean, a tree hanging over the, you know, a city right-of-way or on, in the street or on a sidewalk, that causes liability to the city. Some of the other things are not liability to the city. It's a danger, but it's not a danger to the city.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 30:01

We're going into an area that we're still doing things that we're providing, we'd be providing a private service that is not addressing concerns of the city.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 34:30

Right.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 34:52

I didn't go through this. I mean, I can just say, even when we do put liens on the property, we do have a notice provision.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 34:58

It's not a hearing. It's kind of a hearing provision to contest the charges. I mean, so yes.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 35:04

Yeah, so I wouldn't copy this word for word, I would have a lot of issues with the ordinance. Right.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 37:46

So, and I just, I know you haven't gotten to it, but you were talking about proposed ordinance number 4.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 37:53

No.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 38:01

Then you just went through proposed ordinance number 2.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 38:03

Proposed ordinance number 4, amending Section 2-6-105. I'll just say, I think we talked about this. But I will say it creates a huge conflict of interest having Corporation Counsel make that determination because we ultimately would be the ones prosecuting it.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 38:43

No, I just—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 38:45

Saying that we, we wouldn't agree. I— we wouldn't recommend it as, as drafted.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 40:01

The $20 thing I think is a little bit silly for people. Sometimes they don't even sell $20 worth of stuff.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 43:01

Yeah.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 44:29

Yeah, I'm hoping to get that wrapped up. So, I'll check in with Brian. So I'm hoping maybe for your next council meeting, we can. Act on all those pieces.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 44:46

I don't have the last.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 44:49

I thought it—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 44:52

Yeah, I thought it went through for another little bit, but I can confirm.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 45:16

Okay.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 45:35

Okay.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 45:43

Okay.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 47:27

Yeah.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 52:06

I can.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 52:08

So, I mean, we've said before that we had some issues with the ordinance that the Council passed, just as it relates to kind of that last portion of the application process. I mean, if you want me to go through the entire memo, I will. But with respect to the actual application process as it exists now. There has not been a new process that's been changed in accordance with the ordinance that the Council just passed. So as you can see, we just recently got several requests for a flag raising. You can see based on the applications that we haven't gotten them 3 or 4 weeks in advance. And there's a number of questions of whether or not proclamations, you know, the process as far as— [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Chicken and the egg, the, you know, all of these things need to come before, and then you're kind of basically having an application process for really just the date and time of the flag raising. Because my read of the ordinance as proposed and as adopted, there's only 3 ways that an ordinance— or excuse me, that a flag can be raised. So having this application process is a little bit redundant. And again, it creates—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 53:41

Again, we made multiple comments that you should not adopt the legislation as a, you know.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 54:27

Which part?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 54:52

Before this—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 54:55

So the mayor had a written policy that you could file an application for specific specific things for a flag-raising policy. The issue— and then that process, so they'd have the application, they'd ask for the date, there'd be a number of other things included as far as the flag-raising that would get approved by the mayor or not. As soon as you—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 46:56

I just want one second.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 47:54

No, I didn't. You got to go. You're fine. Um, I just would like to see how much it costs to have— what does the budget look like so we can know how to figure out what we're going to— yeah, I mean, you know, like, how do we figure out rates if we don't have the numbers in front of us of what ski patrol costs, everything on there?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 49:10

But I mean, I'm with Jack on rates too. I'd like to look at that, look them over again too.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 50:03

No, can we make our 25th meeting the 11th?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 50:22

I can do 5:30 or 6.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 59:07

But I disagree. I know, no, but I think people aren't skiing because they don't have access to it. We have an opportunity. We're going to open the ski hill back up. Kids will have access.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:15:42

go ahead. Well, I can just say, I can speak to as to why you're getting it now. Typically this was done up until the last couple years where it kind of fell through the cracks. Typically they were submitted at the same time. When you got the budget, you got legislation to correspond for the sewer rents. It got sent down now so you have it ahead of time and you guys can make your decisions come budget season and not forget that you have to change the rates in accordance with the budget.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:16:13

My understanding is there were two sent down offering two different percentages. I, I wasn't aware that, that they were sent down other than I know that I had— there was some question as to what the existing rates are and what was last passed, but I believe they're just the two different 2 different percentages, um, for the council's consideration as to, um, obviously you would go with the lower one, wouldn't you?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:18:26

Not right now.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:23:22

Um, just for, um, clarification— not clarification, but, um, for the, um, council's, um, reference, there's 36 billboards that exist, um, within the city presently. Um, I do have some maps showing where they are. A majority of them are on the arterial, um, and Oriskany Street, um, but they are starting to pop up and people are getting variances, not just variances for their location but variances for their size and, um, dual, um, boards, boards. Um, so that's what we're seeing, um, essentially, um, right now they are permitted in a couple, um, they're permitted in the industrial and industrial mixed zones, um, by a special use permit. Mhm. Um, but, um, again, we think the total prohibition, um, will start to eliminate the billboards that we're seeing and the volume that we're seeing them pop up.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:25:07

So it is already in the code. The code already has a non-conforming use and certain other provisions. So the clause in here just says that they're permitted to continue subject to Division 6, Article 2, Chapter 29, is the non-conforming use provision of these.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:25:33

And pursuant to the zoning code, those kind of signs can stay, um, you know, and there are some limitations, but they can't be modified, they can't be expanded. The use has to stay exactly the same way it is at present.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:27:08

there still are provisions within the zoning code that you can apply for variances, Having a harsher restriction, okay, sends a message that, you know, we don't want more billboards and we don't want, you know, these popping up with the exception of very, very, you know, specific circumstances for why a variance should be okay.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:27:41

I don't know the exact address. I want to say it's, um, further down, closer to the canal.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:28:03

Okay, please forgive me.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:28:10

Okay. Well, it does have to go to committee. Um, it will need a— it will need a public hearing. Um, so my recommendation is to put it in committee, but, um, tonight at your meeting, to call for a, um, public hearing, um, along with a public hearing on the, um, battery energy storage systems, um, just so that we can send set out one notice, um, for those.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:28:36

I believe it ends on the 25th. So, um, again, I think Brian sent it everything to Planning Board, so Planning Board meets prior to the 25th. So as long as you call for the meeting on the 20— or excuse me, before the 25th, Planning Board will meet. But as long as you call for your meeting on the 25th and vote on it, you should be good. I guess if worst case happens, I can prepare an extension of the moratorium for another month just to allow for the, uh, um, or to, you know, pass.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:29:18

Um, so there are billboards that are up in, uh, District 2 and 5 that are on buildings, like some of them are kind of located on buildings. Will those stay too? There's like— and down by the brewery, I think, and then there's some like on property. The only reason why I ask, because those are ones that specifically talk about lead healthcare for people, Fidelis, things like that. I was just curious if those billboards will still stay going or if they will—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:29:44

Okay. I don't believe they're classified as Is that advertising? I mean, if it's advertising and not something for the business there. No, it's not for the business there.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:29:58

I was just curious, making sure that— okay, thank you.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:30:37

I have the— so billboard is A billboard is defined in the zoning code, and that definition is saying— we're not removing the definition— it's any sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted or sold, where the promise— whereupon the premises for which such sign is located or which it's to affect. Again, I think the understanding of billboards is large commercial signs, not the signs that you're posting on.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:31:05

no, it's already in the zoning code. I'm not taking that out.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:32:26

I can talk on all of these. There's a couple pieces here, um, just to explain.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:32:34

well, there should be— there's 1, 2, 3— there's 4 pieces in connection with, with battery storage.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:32:52

So I can— but I can talk generally. So again, back in August we passed a moratorium. Um, Brian had received a number of, um, questions and inquiries about, um, battery energy storage systems within the city. Um, we have nothing in the zoning code, um, regulating those We do have stuff regulating other things of—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:33:17

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:35:14

They're not, they're not, they don't exist.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:35:22

We're being proactive because Brian, like I said, about 6 months ago got a number of calls inquiring as to what the requirements were for the city if we wanted to allow them. I believe that was based on something that New York State did.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:35:53

the best comparison is much like solar. I mean, they just, they use it, but they're pulling energy from the grid. It's not coming from—

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:36:33

Yeah, more, more than I know.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:37:05

Yeah. And, and to be clear, there are, you know, much like other, you know, wind, solar, you know, there are a lot of concerns with, you know, having these systems in place. Um, again, we just said, um, you know, you can't put it out with, you know, regular, you know, water. So the fire department has to figure out, you know, how to handle that. And they're— so the last piece of legislation that I sent down is the actual regulations, um, which would require again, the special use permit, and there are specific things that the applicant would need to provide. A lot of those include, you know, providing, um, not just information about, you know, how it's going to look, but, you know, noise regulations, um, you know, their safety information, and providing that to the fire department, police department, codes, um, you know, inspections, site access. You know, there's a lot of different regulations for them. That they not only have to apply when they do their site plan approval as part of their special use, but as an ongoing, you know, changes in ownership has to be shared. So there's a lot of things that govern that. Again, we're not asking for the Council to act on this tonight. You can't, it has to go to a public hearing. And I know that I just sent this down today, 'cause I was waiting for clarification that we could get it on the calendar for Planning Board. But take a look at it, we can answer more questions. It is very detailed. Again, I took, you know, the model system from, you know, New York State as to what they recommend for their regulations. I tailored it ever so slightly to fit the City of Utica specifically. Um, but, um, you know, review it, and then if you have specific questions, I know one of the things I talked about with fire, um, and urban, um, was adding a, um, you know, distance from any residential uses, um, between the structures to prevent any fires. Um, so fire is still weighing in on, on the distance that should be between them.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:39:59

Yeah, but there's also— they have to, they have to meet certain New York State standards, building standards.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:40:09

Yeah, they have a number of standards that they have to meet in addition to our code requirements, but also they do need a licensed professional to be able to provide the plans, share them, get a building permit. So there's, there's a lot of things that have to happen. But if you look through our zoning code, they're very similar to what we have for for our solar energy systems, not exactly, but our telecommunications systems. It's a lot of the same processes and procedures and requirements that they have for all these systems. It's very similar how they're regulated.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:43:37

Are you wondering about this?

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:43:42

They've reviewed it. They know that there's regulations. The only thing we've been waiting to give me an answer on, which is why the legislation has got a blank in it, is the provision about how far from a residential from structure to structure what the distance should be.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:43:59

They're just looking at the distance.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:44:26

Where was the fire that you just told me? Watertown. Watertown.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:44:35

They had a fire.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:44:56

So I know they're, they're grabbing them, but I just would recommend that you call for the public hearing so you can add both of those to the same, um, notice.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:45:37

We're going to So, so Jack, I'll just point out, so Section 2-29, um, 387, there's a subsection D which is left blank. That's what I'm waiting for fire to weigh in on, what they think the appropriate distance, um, should be between.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:37:08

Nothing to report.

Stephanie DiGiorgio 1:51:51

We sent this down a while ago. It was sent back down in, um, in November. Um, there were some questions when it was initially sent down. We corrected those, um, and updated it. I believe the questions from the council when we first sent it down were relating to, I think, the term delivery and whether that meant text messages and how that meant if you had to physically deliver a notice of claim. So we corrected all of that and updated it, which is what you have in front of you. And essentially, you know, we're just looking to get it passed. It clarifies mainly that the 311 app does not constitute sufficient notice as well as other clarifications as to— I think I gave my copy away, but I believe it clarifies what other municipal properties are included within the notice requirement as well.