Johnson has spearheaded the highly debated indoor recreation center over the course of the last few months, while Kim has led the charge on an equally discussed new public safety building.

Both city council members voted against each other’s plans that would have allowed their projects to move forward. During the Mayor’s agenda, Kim voted against authorizing Johnson to amend the contract with Creighton Manning Engineering to conduct a traffic study to determine whether or not the South Side recreation field is an appropriate site for the indoor rec center.

The amendment is worth $1,600 and will take two weeks to complete. The measure passed in a 4-1 vote.

During Kim’s agenda, he told the council he would continue to vote against the proposed rec center until concerns over legal issues that have been raised over the facility are resolved.

“There have been a lot of questions and concerns about the rec center. I share the legal concerns that are out there about the alienation of land and also land restrictions,” he said. “I am keeping an open mind, but until I can be convinced otherwise I will consistently vote not to approve building the rec center.”

The legal issues Kim speaks of pertain to a clause in the property’s deed that says the land can only be used for recreation purposes. In the past, citizens have raised questions to whether or not the proposed 50-car parking lot violates the clause.

“I feel it’s important to really understand whether or not we are intentionally creating a problem for ourselves. If not, I will be a supporter of this project,” Kim said.

Mayor Johnson also voted against amending a contract with LaBella Associates to allow the company to complete interior designs and cost estimates for the new public safety building and the current police station in City Hall. The measure passed in a 3-2 vote. Commissioner John

Franck also voted against the amendment, which is worth $23,000.

In other business:

• Mayor Scott Johnson set public hearings for an array of topics at the July 15 City Council meeting. At 6:15 p.m., the council will hear public comment on a resolution to include Saratoga Lake and Fish Creek to the 2006 NYS Open Space Conservation Plan. At 6:20 p.m. the council will hold a public comment period on the status of the indoor rec center and at 6:50 p.m. there will be public comment to discuss two parcels of land the city wants to donate to the Shelters of Saratoga.

• During Commissioner Franck’s agenda, the city council approved a resolution that will allow taxi companies to charge a temporary taxi fuel surcharge. The surcharge allows taxi companies in the city to charge up to a 20 percent surcharge on fairs for as long as gas remains $4 per gallon or above.

According to Assistant City Attorney Tony Izzo, the last time such a surcharge was imposed was during the 1970s when taxi companies were permitted to impose a fee anytime fuel prices went above $1.75 - a measure that stayed on the books up until about five years ago, he said.

• During Commissioner Scirocco’s agenda, he presented an update on the reconstruction of the City Hall steps which he does not expect to be completed by the beginning of track season. According to Scirocco, the cutting and installation of the granite steps are the reason behind the project’s delay. He hopes they will be completed by late July or early August.

“It is going to be a good project, something that the public can really be proud of,” Scirocco said. “We are working on getting it done before racing season, but we aren’t going to rush it.”