April 7th, 2023
from the desk at city hall

From the desk of our Department of Public Works (DPW):

"Wednesdays forecasted severe thunderstorms were predicted to have the greatest threats west of Geneva, but we sure got more than our fair share.  City departments have been busy with the extreme weather event responding to emergencies and cleanup. DPW staff have done a great job of coordinating our resources while keeping our water and waste water plants operational as well as getting streets and facilities safely opened.  Debris cleanup is continuing throughout the city.    

The heavy rains and winds did cause local flooding, saturated back yards and sump pump systems were put to the test.  Castle Creek breached its banks at Main Street behind the Devaney Funeral Home, causing issues on Colt, Elm, Genesee,  Geneva Streets and within the Business Improvement District.    Several streets were temporarily closed but most everything was opened shortly after midnight early this morning. 

Several areas of the new DRI green infrastructure and planting bed areas sustained damage both in the Streetscape and Rtes. 5&20 sections.  We will be preparing estimates of damages and will be working to restore as soon as possible.  

We want to stress to property owners that while we sympathize with ground water intrusion into their homes, we understand that many utilize sump pump systems. We urge that the sump pumps not be connected to the sanitary sewer lines per city codes.  The storm water being discharged into the sanitary sewers causes significant over flow to the system and expense to treat rain water and the surcharged sewer lines cause backups. Our waste water plant peaked at 32 million gallons last night, which is six times design capacity. 

Please remember that tree and lawn debris may be placed at the curb in the right-of-way for collection.   We cannot collect debris from private property. We may not be in your neighborhood today picking up debris but we will be there.  Property owners are also welcome to drop off yard wastes at the Resource Recovery Park Doran Ave facility for free. 

Please make arrangements with your trash hauler to pick up bulk items and damaged goods." - Joe Venuti, DPW Director 

City Council Meeting 
Wednesday, April 12th starting at 7pm at Public Safety Building
https://www.youtube.com/City of Geneva, NY 

The topics on Wednesday's agenda are:
Update on the Zoning Process 
Resolution Establishing a Public Hearing for the Sale of City Owned Property.
Resolution Authorizing a Budget Amendment for the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Resolution Authorizing a Budget Amendment to Upfit the 2023 Vehicle Purchased with Fire Truck Proceeds.
Resolution Increasing the fees for Memorial Benches.
First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 215 Entitled “Licensing of Occupations”
First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 335-17 Entitled “Parking, Standing and Stopping Restrictions” of the City of Geneva Municipal Code.
Board/Commission Appointments

*These items are tentative and subject to change.

Recently, the Federal Government mandated that municipalities must inventory all water services to determine where if any lead service pipes are located throughout the community. This information will be utilized to develop plans and begin the process of eliminating them. Lead is usually not present in the drinking water source. It may result from the distribution system or the homes interior plumbing itself. Possible ways lead enters into drinking water could be where there is corrosion in the lead pipes, fixtures, and solder. An impactful way to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water is to remove the lead service line that brings water to your home from the water main in the street. To help address this issue of identifying the specific homes that have lead service lines, the City of Geneva staff will be conducting door-to-door assessments. These trained individuals will be able to quickly identify if your home has a lead service line. This round of door-to-door lead service line verifications begins this week and continues through May 31 2023. The Geneva DPW workers will identify themselves with an official City of Geneva ID. If you have any questions about this important and federally mandated initiative, please call Public Works and Engineering at 315-789-3101.

Attention Geneva Residents and Property Owners

Do you have open green space between the street and sidewalk in front or alongside of your property?

The Geneva Department of Public Works with the support of the Geneva Shade Tree Committee is seeking property owners to plant street trees in open city rights-of-way.

• Trees are beautiful and provide important value to you and to the city.

• Trees can increase the resale value of your home and enhance privacy and boost the appearance of your street.

• Trees improve air quality and provide cooling shade to lower ambient air temperatures in urban and residential spaces.

• Trees improve water quality by absorbing groundwater and reducing storm run-off.

• Trees improve habitat for birds and other important wildlife.

• Healthy residential tree cover makes people happier!

Healthy young trees are available at NO COST in exchange for a small promise that they will be watered regularly for the first year and protected from trunk damage by mowers and string trimmers. DPW will provide FREE tree trunk guards and initial waterings.

You will be consulted to select the species most suited to your planting sites to minimize conflict with overhead and underground utilities and to avoid future issues with sidewalks such as upheaval and cracking.

Planting sites are being created this spring and trees will be scheduled for planting in Fall 2023. DPW will provide tree installations.

Please call Joe Venuti in the Engineering Department at (315) 789-3101 or contact Mark Perry at markperry@geneva.ny.us to request additional information.

Click Here To Register

NOTICE TO GLENWOOD

CEMETERY VISITORS

Please be advised that Geneva City crews have started spring cleanup activities at Glenwood and Washington Street Cemeteries. We would like to remind visitors that all unclaimed wreaths, broken urns and flower pots and all artificial flowers and/or adornments not in appropriate containers, etc. will be disposed of starting Monday April 10th 2023.

Visitors are reminded that trees and shrubs are not to be planted without permission, and flowers should be placed in containers at the ends of the monuments if possible. Due to safety concerns, GLASS CONTAINERS AND/OR ADORMENTS ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS AND DECORATIONS NOT IN POTS, AND LOOSE STONE ARE PROHIBITED. WOODEN CROSSES, FENCES, TRELLISES, SHEPHERD HOOKS, AND BANNER & PLANT HANGERS/HOLDERS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

As you visit the cemetery, please note (as posted in both entrances of Glenwood and at Washington Street) that dogs are not allowed on cemetery grounds.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please feel free to contact the cemetery office at 315-789-7271.

The City of Geneva

Buildings & Parks Department