Common Council - Regular Meeting

birthday. [clears throat] Oh boy.

We're going to start our study session. Uh, thank you for joining us today. All right, here we go. Um, councelor Oh, do we have any? You know Monday. We'll know Monday. Okay, so moving on. Councelor Williams. Uh, I'm here for councelor Williams. Councelor Williams. Oh, I'm sorry. That's okay. Um, he has eight. Number eight. That one. We uh That one's ready, right? We introduced the table last time. We're ready with that one. Okay. Uh resolution approving councelor I mean item nine approving appointments of various Monday.

Monday. Okay. Councelor Majoke. Thank you. I have item 10 to 18. I think the first item just Evan, you taking the first item? Yeah. Good afternoon, councilors. Evan Loving, budget director. Um, item 10 is a renewal of an existing contract with energy automation. Energy automation gives us um expertise and support on our energy utilization, including preparing our annual energy budget. Um, so we work with them frequently. As we all know, energy costs are rising and so this continues to be a vital service. We originally RFPed this and we just had one more renewal. When the renewal is up, we will go back out for RFP. Do

they do they produce any report at all? They produce a lot of ad hoc reports. They also review our bills. And so we work with them on I work with them on a daily or weekly basis. In terms of what they produce annually, it's usually the budgeted numbers that we that we include in the proposed budget. Yep. Any other were they a part of that new thing that the mayor's office signed off on with the the letters that went out?

They they we they were consulted as part of the solar initiative. They that's not what they do, but we do include them. Like I said, they are a resource on energy. They have decades of experience in the field. So, we did talk to them about the program as well, but they they were not a part of setting that up or putting it out. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you. Item 11. Hello county counselors and president. How are you doing? Hi Ann. Hi. How are you?

Good. Oh sorry. First deputy commissioner an Ford. Um so 11 is amending agreement. So the original agreement came before you in 2025 and that's for the uh building. It's considered a temporary structure and it's to hold all the trash and recycling carts parts and pieces. This is just an amendment um because we had to add some insurance for the builders when they're on site building it. So that was not in the original bid and pricing. So the price did go up a little and that's what this is for.

Thank you. And do you have a um a updated number on well just any number on the amount of individuals who've asked for additional carts who paid for Yeah, we can get that. Vicki sends me a list uh every week of who they are and we add them to a list for delivery. So we can get to that. Okay, surely. Can you send it to everybody? What's that? Can you send it to all of us? Oh yes, definitely. Thank you. All for one in one. you know one one of the concern when we when this legislation was passed and was that certain individual were going to to take out the people cart [clears throat] have you had heard of any that of that at all

so I mean I feel like it's a constant uh thing for us and it's usually people using them for other things such as collecting bottles and cans or metal and so um if it's a metal or bottle place we have to go there weekly typically to pick up and retrieve the carts. Um, we did, you know, try to make sure there wasn't, say, abuse of that by requesting that you do a police report, but um, there's a few at gas station sitting there. What's that? There's a few sitting at the Mando's gas station. Just sitting there. Mando's gas station. Okay.

Right on the line. Yeah, definitely let me know if there's any uh lingering, but uh our guys typically know where they where these carts hang out and they we have to go collect them. Yes. Thank you. Any other questions? Item 12.

Good afternoon, councilors. Mary Robinson, city engineer. Items 12 through 14 are associated with um the parking lot that we call the Harborbrook parking lot, which is a small parking lot um basically off of Fowler High School's parking lot and between the baseball field and Harbor Brook, which will provide some parking spaces and pedestrian access from the lot that we're leasing for parking al along Gettis Plaza um to get right to 1153 West Fet. that. So in 12, we are requesting um seeker an unlisted action um with no significant impact for the construction phase of this parking lot. Um 13 is increasing the bond ordinance by $500,000 for a total of $650,000. And 14 is the project authorization for the construction of that Harborbrook parking lot which has an address of what's the address? 1171 West FET.

Did the bid came back higher. Mary? No, we're completing the design. We're authorizing the whole construction phase. So the first time I came to you was strictly for the design phase for 1171 West FET and then also the um parking lot on the east side of Gatis 11 Magnolia Street and 1171 and then the pedestrian access over the abandoned railroad bridge. So we're building two parking lots and pedestrian access over the um abandoned railroad bridge. But this 500,000 is for the um Magnolia Street lot.

And how many um parking lots do they expect to get out of that? How many parking spaces? Yes. Uh approximately 16. But it's also got security and is allowing the people that park um in the Gettys Plaza to get access directly to um the new building. So they cross Harbor Brook, go through this secure lot and directly to the new Yeah. police building.

Any other questions? 15 1617 are companion pieces, right? Yes, this is related to the demolition of the FET parking garage at 300 East FET. It's uh seeker in 15 is a type two action. Um and then the bond ordinance for a cost not to exceed $3 million and project authorization not to exceed $3 million.

Can you just talk a little bit more for those that are listening as to why we are doing this? Uh we the parking garage is not um safe for people to park in it right now and the cost to repair it is [clears throat] exorbitant and we have no guarantee how long that if we did spend a lot of money to repair it. It still may have a very limited short lifespan. Any questions? All right. 18

18 is a request for a local law to grant a permanent easement to Niagara Mohawk at the airport for the installation, operation, and maintenance of an underground power line to the new consolidated rental car facility along Eileen Collins Boulevard. Question. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you. Thanks, Mayor. Um uh item 19 is the resolution uh to put a checkbox into our RFPs to for a disclosure from individuals that are doing business with the city. And uh I want to thank Evans. I want to thank Joe Barry. I want to thank Michael Colin uh for coming together to do this uh with us. Any questions? Everybody on board? Everybody on? Yes, 100%. All right. Thank you. That will be all.

Um, so councelor Eric is not present. Who's in the patrona? Do you want to take those items? Yep. I have item 19. A resolution urging a director of management. No, 20. You just did that one. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we were there. Okay. [laughter] Good afternoon. Have items 20 through 26.

Good afternoon, council. Chris Abbott, deputy commissioner of the parks department. Um items 20 and 21 relate to our annual after uh end of the year program uh for our afterchool programs in the parks. Um, one is with Hail Transportation on behalf of the parks department to provide uh passenger coach buses for the trip at a cost not to exceed $14,000. Uh, there questions there annual thing. Yeah. And our annual trip to Dory Park. So item number 21 is uh to authorize payment uh to Dory Park for the purchase of tickets for all of the participants

in the cost. not to exceed $12,000 serving over 200 youth. Questions? 22. Let me ask you a question. I'm looking at the numbers, right? So, is it 210 and or 224? Because I'm looking at 210 and then it's 224. Um, and I can invite Jason Howard, our program director here to answer the question. But, uh, looks like it's numbers. Okay. Hi, Jason Howard, program director, city parks. I know I was waiting for this. I was waiting to come up here anyway. So, [laughter] I was waiting for the rest. So, what was the question again?

It says purchase tickets for 210 youth. Dennis has catered lunch for 224. So, is that the chaperons included in the So, what it is is 210 purchase tickets and then those are the extra tickets that come along with it. So, a total of 224 people that will be going but we're only paying for 210 cuz once you purchase so many tickets they give you so many. Correct. But the total number of people there'll be free tickets to enter but the other you know I'm always taking so the other money is just to feed them. Yes. So they give you so many tickets once you purchase so many tickets they give you free ones. So that's what you want to say. Any other questions? Thank you.

Sure. Uh item number 22 is uh authorization to proceed with a 2526 capital improvement program for the public arts initiative an amount not to exceed $35,000. Um again this uh these funds are used to repair, replace, improve existing public art uh provide some site preparation uh for the public art projects. [clears throat] Okay. Um, question.

Have we ever had a not a audit, but any reports on on um the public arts stuff as far as like uh yearly how many get repaired or replaced or installed? I'm happy to invite Josh Wilcox, our planner, up to answer that question. Hi, Council. Uh Joshua Gox, landscape designer, uh parks department. Question on has there been any audits? Not necessarily no audits because we try to repair things as we see it as they come. Um we're currently in the process of inventorying everything. We have an idea of what everything we have had uh initiated in the in the public arts program.

Yeah. Over the years, but there's been no process. Okay. Well, when you have that information, if you could just give it Yeah, totally. We can give you the inventory as well. Okay. Oh, thank you. Hey, Josh. I got a question. It's totally off for this one. Where are we with Homer Weaten? So, that's an intake right now. It's in permitting right now for the review with the right departments and then we're good to go with the bid. So, we'll be out to bid within the next 6 weeks. And that's for the that's for concession stand and a splash pad at home park. So, what about West Morland and Berry Park? Where are we with those?

Uh with Berry Park, we do have some community engagement planned that we haven't announced yet, but we will be planning some community engagement. um early summer before the end of the school year. And then West Morland, we are under contract with a consultant. We've already had the survey conducted, so we have an entire new topographic land survey. Um we already have the equipment, so we're just putting the the pieces together now so that we can get it installed. Can you let us Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Can you let us know about the community engagement um dates? Okay. Yeah. Uh right now, we don't have specific dates, but we're looking at May and June for community engagement for at least three playgrounds. So, West Morland will be done this summer. We will have the splash pad this summer. Yeah, because we have the equipment, we don't have to worry about procurement. We just have to worry about construction.

Thank you. And Josh, um, wanted to thank you. I know that you helped coordinate the flags over at Comfort Tyler. Yeah. Um, it it feels like a little thing, but you know, having a new American flag and the the new First Light over in that park makes a really big difference. Um, and the the neighborhood is very proud and and love having it up there. So, thank you for that coordination. Definitely. We've seen many photos already. So, thank you for letting us know. Thank you. Thank you, Josh. And uh that was 20. That was item 22, right? Yeah. Items. So, we're on to 23,

right? Uh items 23 and 24 related to uh authorization to proceed with the capital improvement program for wayfinding uh and signage on behalf of the parks department and the total amount not to exceed $150,000 uh 23 is [snorts] authorizing the issuance of sale uh the sale of bonds items 24. Chris, what signage? What are you guys doing? What signage? Yeah, a uh actually Josh has a physical uh example of what we we plan to do with the these capital funds and it is to um replace update uh the signage throughout the parks department.

Do you have a list of like where and what are you going to be well Josh you can correct me if I'm wrong but it's really starting you know beginning and just going throughout the parks. Um, oh, so it's just to replace the signs that are kind of already we have right for many years, decades, the wooden signs. Yep. So these, right? So these would be the entrance signs to the parks, right? entry signs into the parks and as well as some additional way finding in the parks

and and um and I mentioned last year um and probably the year prior but the South A side of Kirk Park there's no signage at the South A so people don't realize like well not South A that Kirk Park turn yeah when you come from that sideway no one knows that there's no way to get back into Kirk Park if you turn down. Is that Kirk Park Way or something? Kirk Park Drive. I may have one. Yeah.

Yeah. 100%. And uh the sign that the model that you see right now, it's a uh meant to be concrete with wood and that concrete column right there is multifaced. So we could put banners on the side. We could put the icons on the side and then we could put the directional arrows and the panels for where people should go to get to the the main community center. Okay. Josh, can you um part of what I've asked um for multiple years, but can we please get signs this year for the ticks? Yes. Can we please figure out a way to make sure especially those high uh population where there's deers at that we have a signage a picture and a picture of what a tick look like that is posted through the parks.

Yeah. Right now it probably is a little bit too small on the sign for how big the sign is. Our intention is to blow them up much larger than a picture of a tick cuz if you never was exposed to deer, you wouldn't know, but can we please put that in? Thank you. Definitely. Thank you.

And before you leave, um Josh, is uh any of this signage related to like the creek walk? like is the creekwalk gonna have any because I know like there's been conversations for a couple years now about some type of way wayfinding on the creek walk and I know that some local organizations have tried to take that on on their own but for their portion of the creek walk and that's we want it to be you know across the entire creek walk so that wasn't something that we

100% and uh consistency is big so having that consistent signage especially the mapping right now we only have one map that really show was the phase one creek walk. So, we wanted to expand that to include even the potential phase three and the route that that could take. Um, having much larger signage that people could see it very clearly. If we could look at uh lighting with our signage, that would be awesome, but I think that's definitely a different conversation. But, um, having signs that are accessible to all and that [clears throat] everybody could actually see from a distance. Yeah. Creek Walk 100%. So, is that something you're going to have to come back is in here and ask for more money a part of this signage? Because we want to make sure that as you're doing this that you're actually putting those up, too.

Yeah, those signs we already have a design uh ready to go. We just got to get them printed. We plan on using the existing stanches, the the um poles that hold them in place, and then we have to install some more of them. Um, a lot of that has been internally redesigned so that we could start to implement pretty quickly. Um, we're looking at this summer and using some of the existing funds here because this covers our our larger brand signage, but then our smaller.

And I know we're sort of off topic, but it's considering signs and the trash cans do the walk. We need more trash cans. Like the Disney study I've been saying for the last five years, after so many steps, you have to have trash cans. They're going to end up on the floor. That's in the parks, too. We don't have enough trash cans that are in places where people can throw stuff trash at. So, I'll send you our new trash signage, too. New signage there, please. That's that's uh already drafted and ready for implementation. Thank you. Okay, one more thing, Josh. Sorry. At the bottom of that, is that like a little flower bed?

Yes, the little planting bed. So, any neighbor uh neighborhood groups could go ahead and take uh some ownership over or we could just use a typical annual planting pallet. And what's the material? Concrete. Oh, concrete. Okay.

Excuse me. I have another question to Josh. Uh, I got a report on Monday. There was a group of teenagers at Schiller Park. Uh, they got in a few fights. It was altercating into violence. Neighbor had called 911. Um, I don't know if Sisha is here, but uh, I just want to bring it to your attention at Schiller Park and it was forwarded to the commissioner. It was forwarded to Captain Don Patty. Um, and and I'm someone said to me, "Well, doesn't Syracuse police don't they patrol Sher Park during the day?" And I really didn't have a a response. I couldn't add, but I want to bring that to your attention that we have to maybe follow up, especially when there's a school break and kids are hanging out. Uh, and it did bother some of the older people who were visiting the park as well.

Thank you. All right. I will follow up. Yeah. And our sites are open, you know, earlier this week with the school break. So, we're we're there. And I mentioned it to Commission um Commissioner Bird regarding the cameras that we got to make sure that our cameras I know said there's some updating to happen, but all this park should have the cameras up and ready to roll. So, we're getting follow up with that as well. Thank you so much. Thank you, Council. So 25. Yes.

And item 25 is uh to accept from coordinated care services corporated funds um reimbursement funds for our afterchool programs municipal funds um that uh are offered every year and an amount not to exceed 18,741. All right. 26 26. Oh, 26. Okay. Thank you, Chris. Thank you.

All right. 26 is a resolution um recognizing April 26, I'm sorry, April 2026 as autism awareness month in the city of Syracuse in an effort to increase awareness and re reduce the stigma, encourage early diagnosis and intervention, and promote policies and programs that support individuals on the autism spectrum. Is this uh something everybody wants to know? All right. Thank you. Yeah. Um, council Hudson. Thank you. I have item 2729.

Good afternoon, counselors. Vinnie Scipion, chief information officer. Uh, 27 is an agreement uh with site improve, which is an uh platform which uh ensures compliance on our digital assets such as our websites for accessibility purposes. Uh so this is mandated by the federal government that we uh do so and uh this was the platform that we determined to best suit our needs to in order to do that. So So you said it was the platform that you determined your RFP any

uh below the RFP threshold. We went and got multiple quotes and uh this is the one that uh you know best scored on our internal evaluation process. The next one is with SurveyMonkey. Uh another platform uh you've probably heard of it and or used it before. Uh it's used by multiple departments, the communications department, the city payment center and beyond for uh engaging with residents, constituents, and uh obtaining information uh relative to their operations. So uh also another one below the RFP threshold. Any questions? Great. Thank you. Good afternoon, councilors. Uh, Jenip, director of strategic initiatives. Uh, item number 29 is an agreement with the Syracuse Urban Partnership, which owns the Chimes building on Salina Street. Um this is for a nocost uh access agreement basically for the city to install fiber at the building um to connect into the Northland telecommunications room that exists there. I think some people are aware Chimes is one of our two um internet closets in the city of Syracuse. So this is just a standard build for our broadband infrastructure. Um, this will the the current um uh end date for this is basically set to coincide with our current um contract with the state of New York for our broadband grant. Um, it will likely need to be extended because we will keep the equipment there longer term. Um, but we initially we just scoped it so that the contracts are in alignment and then we'll come back obviously when we need to extend it. So, what happens if um what happens when this contract ends with the state and broadband and we're

done with this? What happens with this? So, we'll need to keep this because this is for the the infrastructure itself. The city is going to continue to own the fiber, all of the network equipment, and we will need to continue to, you know, keep that infrastructure deployed in the community. So um so it'll still be the city's responsibility to maintain the fiber that is going to be at this particular site as a part of the city's um network so we can continue to use that infrastructure conversation that well for both for both but go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. You probably about to ask some question.

The last conversation that we had um before our last allocation of funds was that the city would be looking for someone to take over this project um because we have not been doing a a good job at getting it out there. So why would we be why would we hold on to any of this after the contract?

So the city is still going to be responsible for owning the infrastructure. The city owns the fiber. The city owns the the infrastructure. We have a contractual agreement with the state of New York to maintain this infrastructure as a condition of receiving the grant from the state for 10 years. What we do with that infrastructure can change. So um we will need to have a conversation when the time is right about what we do with that infrastructure. We can lease that infrastructure to other providers um which will generate revenue for the city in the future potentially. There are a number of things that we can do um which is different from what we're currently doing. But as it stands as it stands right now, the city um owns the assets um and then we can use those assets obviously for both municipal purposes as well as for um community based broadband.

And what what year are we in? Four. I'm sorry. This is year four. This is year three. Year three. 305. I thought it was it should it's three years of we did this during ARP but during right we executed our contract in 2023 and this goes to it goes through 2026 26 right how are [cough] the numbers looking in terms of subscriber numbers yes

so I can pull new numbers and get those to you I don't have it off the top of my head I think the last time I checked which was a month ago we were um somewhere between 1500 and600. You gave me get the exact Yeah, we'll send we'll send updates to everyone. Okay. [clears throat] Yep. Any other questions? Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Uh councelor Moore. Thank you, Madam President. I have items 30 through 38. We are going to hold 30 through 32. Let him come up. Oh, you can come up. Speak. Yeah. 32. [laughter]

Good afternoon, council. Uh, Chief Johnson Kinsey, director of mayor's office, reduced gun violence. So, I have items 30 through 32. Um, just want to talk a little bit about why we're here. So, just to be clear that, uh, this program was paused due through uh to the Trump administration. Uh back in April 2025, [clears throat] so just about a year ago, uh the Trump administration held over $500 million from different organizations. Um which led the last administration here, the Walsh administration to pause services so we would not be paying out organizations and not then not being getting reimbursed by the federal government. So that's why we're here. So when we look at the amount that we have not used, it's not because nobody was working. Is this simply was a pause of service uh due to again the Trump administration's pause of services?

Pastor Latif with with that so I understand how long were they paused for? It's been over a year now. So with that one year

just out [clears throat] of curiosity none of these organizations stayed working with the kids. They just sort of cuz the money wasn't there. They were just like, "Hey, we we're done." And then they just restarted back. How did that No, I'm sure they they continue to work with uh kids, the organizations that are listed um in different capacities. Of course, not what with with our contract with us. Um but I'm sure the organizations continue to do work. Uh remember originally our original contract with them was to do outreach, which we've changed over the last over the last few months. Meeting with the DOJ uh back in September 2025, uh we decided to really work with individuals more along with doing with the outreach component added. So, two parts to it, which is working with individuals uh those those high-risisk individuals, but also doing outreach uh to communities. Uh so, really expanding our capacity of what we're doing on each side of town. Also, remember, we have those memberships with the YMCA. Um we've already given out at least 60 to 70 or more Y memberships. Um so, we still have that contract. And Salvation Army, uh continue to do family functional therapy. Um, pastor also with these organizations. Um, is it I know part of on the gun violence task force that I sit on, everyone has to be vetted through the through the police department. If these were to go through, all of everyone that is going to be a part of if this extension goes through and we move money through all everyone's going to be vetted through the police department, right?

Yeah. So, we decided that uh late last year that any contractor that works with the city of Syracuse or the mayor's office to reduce gun violence, uh they would go through a vetting process. So, they would possibly interview first with uh the organization that we're contracted with and then the second interview would be with um our office along with um uh SPD and the district attorney's office and a couple other uh law enforcement organizations that are part of our coalition. And nobody has been hired point in time, right? No. Okay.

Because we don't have a contract with anyone. Um they can't hire anyone because we we're not paying anyone at this time. So the contractor who So who's vetted? The contractor and the staff or just the contractor? So the contractor will go through with trying trying to find individuals to hire. They'll have a pool of people. They'll do the first set of interviews in house. Um if they pass through that interview process, the second interview will be with with us. Okay. Right. Good question. Is it the contractor or is it the staff? Are the staff get vetted? Yeah, the staff will get vetted. Yeah.

And tell me the age group of this this program right here. Uh 14 to 24. So this is the 14 to 24. And exalt is what age group? Do you know T? No, that is got to be uh school age. 16 to 24. It can't be no more than 18 or 20 because it's exalt is is I'm just trying to see where to overlap. So 14 to 24 for this one. Exalt. We don't know exalt age group. Steph, do you know 16 to 19? Yeah, the the exalt group is about 16 to 19. Yeah, 16 to 19. And then the other program is what? That's the only one we have. We have right now.

There's another one. What [clears throat] project rise through the state for the New York City? Oh yeah, that's I believe that's 14 to 19 because again that's like school age. So that's 14 [clears throat] to 19 and down you're having a committee meeting right? Are you having a committee meeting for this? We already had a committee meet on this. Yeah. You was tied up. Yeah. Okay. All right. What's that? Yep. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You guys still want me to hold, right? 30 32. Okay. So, item 33. Are there any questions? If not, we're good to go with that.

I do. I'm sorry. I want to give you a handout so you guys will have some context. So, no. I got some something else for you all. I have that'll give you a narrative of what we've been doing so you guys won't get lost with what we're doing cuz we're doing a lot. So, I think giving you a narrative along with a budget will kind of help you out. So, you requested last meeting the old budget from 2023, the original budget. I have that and also the the updated budget. So, I I'll pass that around. Don't want to interrupt and take a lot of your time, but I'll get that to you right now. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I do have a question about Exalt. Is that you, Steph? Go Stephanie. Go. [laughter] Good afternoon. Stephanie Pasqual, chief strategy officer.

Quick question. So, with the exhaust program and I know it just started and they're just in the process of going. Is there any way we can like um find out like get a quick committee meeting a meeting with them just to see what what they're what they're doing, what's the service, who they're prov where they're at just, you know, I mean, I know. Yeah. If you give us a a date and a time, we'll coordinate with them. They're happy to do it. And um their program's been underway as we reported um for several weeks now. Okay. Happy to do it. Thank you, sir. I'm sorry. I I was trying to get Latif. Sorry, pastor. I was If I can go back for one second. This is Sorry. That's when he's going to [clears throat] be.

Um I'm sorry. I wear my sneakers on Wednesday cuz y'all like y'all like to run me. Um what's up? No, that's different. I wanted to just ask about the outreach part. You said that you stopped outreach. Yeah. So, if we're not paying them, we can't have them do something. We're not paying them to do. So, we pause services. So, you paused it, but you're going to pick that back up. Well, as soon as you all approve it, yeah, they'll start working. Whenever y'all get ready, we ready to rock and roll. We'll go through the process of finish hiring and vetting and then we'll get things rolling. Okay. All right. I just Soon as possible. Verify that. Okay. Before the summer come. Did we Did we know if you nick? That's a good question. Did we actually come to council and pause it or did you guys just pause it? Cuz that's like many.

No, but we didn't say don't do anything. So I don't understand why because agencies couldn't get paid. No.

So last about a year ago when the president issued an executive order regarding a bunch of Department of Justice grants, it was unclear if we had kept this going that we would get reimbursed and be able to pay our service providers for that work performed. So we made a decision not to continue programming and to have the agencies pause. At the same time when we finally got all that worked out in the fall there was as you all know there was um oh my god I can't think of my words furlow the the there was a shutdown so there was a federal shutdown so we also couldn't reimburse folks but the planning work was was going all the time so that's where we were trying to and I think um Latif shared in that document how we shifted from just an outreach plan to an actual case management and using the um a national model to work with these individuals as well as provide some larger scale outreach events this summer in collaboration with McMahon Ryan and the mobile outreach.

No, I get that stuff. Um, but I'm what I'm saying is we never stopped the council. We never met and said stop. Only thing that we're really determined now is moving that one sum of money from one me that didn't do it to mixture to three different entities. So moving these far as we know these programs should already be working. We never stopped that money. We know you didn't stop the money. We were the f there was no indication from the federal government a year ago if we had kept it going that we could reimburse the individuals. So this grant for all those resources that you'll see in there was no source to repay them if we if the federal government decided not to honor those um those contracts.

Right. But what I'm saying is just so I can understand maybe I'm confused. Only thing that was changed as of right now was to give organizations more money. Far as we know is that they should be already working because they have money that's already in the books that's in the contract that we proved. We've never stopped them.

No. And I I don't know if you recall when we when we came two weeks ago, um, everyone's contract originally with us ended either January 31, 2026 or February 14, 2026. That was a contract that was executed years ago. So we're coming to you to both extend the term of these contracts and increase the amount. So they legally as of Jan 31 I think for two of the organizations in February when we executed these contracts way back in 2024. That was the end date. They had a legal end date. We are coming before you. That's why we were scrambling to sort of extend some of those contracts as well as increase the amount to reprogram funds that weren't used.

So when was their end date? What was the end date? two of the organizations I believe I can get you which ones was was Jan 31 2026 and then February 7th were the other two. So they they had ex expiration contract expiration. So right now no one is legally under contract with us the city of Syracuse for this program. Their contracts ended as of January February this year but prior to that they were correct. So they could have been billing out November, December of this 2025 and January 2025.

They could have as long as we weren't under that federal shutdown or the other executive order pause that the that we were unsure about reimbursement. Okay, if that makes sense. Thank you. Jesus. Okay. Did you want someone to talk on 33 still? No, we got counselor. Um, number 34 is going to be withdrawn. It's um we voted on that already. They're withdrawing. Yeah, it's ended on the agenda by era. Items 35.

Council Madam President, Dave Mets, Syracuse Police Department Investigation Bureau Chief. It's for us to authorize an agreement with New York State DCJS with the burn memorial justice grant for an amount not to exceed $27,500. Really essentially this funding will be used to um uh enhance our strive program which we talked about before. It's the training on the danger assessment for law enforcement. It's the Dale form. It's for the Geer Institute to come in to train our personnel. Once our personnel is trained, it'll be the kind of the train the trainer concept and to push that program out there for enhanced domestic violence, not only um investigations, prosecutions, and all the services go along with it. So, it's basically get us to have the form so we can go out and and go forward with that.

Okay. Any questions? No.

Good. Thank you. Um item 36, anyone speak on that? Afternoon, council. Eric Trace, Sergeant Syracuse Police Department. Uh item 36 is uh for a grant uh that would be funding our CIT program for uh 3 years. The grant requires a 20% match for the first two years and then a 40% match for the third year. Uh the first two years we went topheavy so that it would uh alleviate a lot of the funds from that third year extra 20%. So the first two years would fund a um continued uh proactive unit involving two officers working along with uh mental health workers to go out into the community and have that co-responder service that we provide. And uh the additional funding would be for training new CIT officers to uh to give us uh a lot more officers who are especially skilled in this type of work with uh our areas of need regarding our persons in crisis and then further training for uh the leadership uh in our department to to give that same training.

Thank you. Thank you. Uh item 37.

Afternoon everybody. I'm Mike [clears throat] Monz, the fire chief. Um 37 and 38 as a request um to purchase vehicles, our light first response vehicles in our capital improvement plan. Um the goal is to buy two um F350s, two SUVs. Those respond to all of our emergencies, um two incident command vehicles, and three motor pool vehicles. Um that's a total of $775,000. Uh those vehicles will replace two F350s, two SUVs, uh one um truck that's a um a whole ton truck, um two additional SUVs for incident command, and three other motorpool vehicles. So um we're requesting these vehicles and they're going to replace um the vehicles I named and they're either going to go to auction or they're going to get trickled down to other departments that may be able to use them, but these vehicles go to auction that are no longer in use. I know that there's a lot of wear and tear on the vehicles, right? But is there any way you can give us mileage on these vehicles and year?

Yes. And and these are all by our uh guidelines of NFPA, which is a standard of our first response vehicles. So, I can give you the information um that I verbalize. If you want it in um um digital form, I can do that. The mileage. Okay. And the mileage um there's just for a point of information, the mileage is one thing. The amount of hours that they're running is another thing. So, we have all that information. So, there's a lot of things that go into the replacement of the vehicles, but I'll get all that information to you. So, when you say hours running, you're talking about them maybe sitting at a scene.

Sitting at the scene um doing all other um a lot of other things um but not driving around um basically on the scene of calls or um doing um inspections and things like that. So, and have we I know that we talked about it uh years ago that we've never invested in vehicles. So, are we almost to the point of where we're

So, so right now we have a pretty [clears throat] comprehensive plan. Um I can lay everything out um offline or I could come and talk to you online um in a meeting like this. But if we place these orders right now, there's also a backlog and how long these vehicles take. So, if we order these right now, they're not going to come to the spring of 2027. Right now, we're a little bit behind schedule. Um, these will put us on schedule. And the goal is that continually every year have a a replacement program so we never go behind schedule again like we have in the past. So, the goal is every year to come to you with the minimum amount of vehicles we need to keep the replacement program up and running. But one year if it's decided not to buy vehicles and that's happened in the past then I'm coming asking for double the amount because then it's an emergency and we can't have vehicles um to respond in a safe manner. So the goal is to always have um this plan put together that we're asking for a small amount every year instead of waiting for the wheels to fall off and come with an emergency that we need a bunch of vehicles because we haven't bought them consistently over the years. Are we like 80% close to the scheduling that I think that's what

so there's a total amount of vehicles that we have our large heavy fleet and then we have this light fleet. The goal is to have the same amount of fleet every year. As these vehicles get mileage, wear and tear. Um all these different considerations we have with our operation. When those get to the end of the life, they get auctioned off or if other departments can use them. We try to see if DPW or somebody else can use them for the last few years of their life, but they can't be first response vehicles. And so, what was your question? I was asking, you know, how far are we through that schedule where you are persistently updating cuz you said we were behind. So far behind.

We're a little bit behind. If we buy these vehicles, we're we'll be right up to speed. But I just want to um reiterate, we have to continually every year come and ask for replacements for all the vehicles because if not, that's how the plan works is to have um purchases every year so we never get behind if that makes sense to you. Does does that explain right there?

Yep. And then then every year there's a replacement vehicle program that you buy a certain amount of minimum every year and then that will keep you from having highs and [snorts] lows in your replacement program which this way you could plan for the money accordingly and we should know what we need for the next six years in our capital plan and in our capital plan. I have this laid out the next 6 to 10 years how many vehicles we need over the next 10 years if we maintain this minimum replacement program. So thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Chief. That's it. Okay. Uh, Councelor Williams.

Thank you, Madam President. I've got item 39 and Commissioner, I appreciate you calling with the extended version of uh yeah, Matt OJ a bridged version to update my colleagues. We're going to use as few words as possible. Um, looking to amend ordinance 5 of 2026. Um there there was a just one error in the ordinance that didn't match my request letter. Um but but a crucial one. We need the effective date to be January 1st of 27, not 26. But a little more detail,

but a little more. Um we we we [laughter] finalized an assessment role yesterday. Um this this was um it's an expansion of the senior exemption. Um really popular, really really terrific policy, something we love. um something that we were um a in no way prepared to administer this current year. Um right down to the fact that New York State hasn't provided the update for the software to make it happen. Um but also the fact that 1,800 senior citizens applied for a different exemp uh exemption program over the course of the fourth quarter of last year. Um it didn't seem fair and equitable to uh change the terms on them after the fact. 26 to 27, right? 26 to 27. Yeah. Okay, everybody good?

Yeah. Thank you all. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, Coun Thank you, Council Jer. Thank you, Madam President. I have items 40 and 41. Um, item 40 is just to Oh, 40 is yours. I'm sorry. I was just being ready for 41. Okay. Item [laughter] 40 is just to advertise the um public hearing for um the CDBG year 51, last year's um allocations uh just some replacement funds. Um so that uh public hearing will be held um April 20th at 100 p.m. All right. 41.

Uh Michael Collins, Commissioner for Neighborhood and Business Development. And the reason we're getting together for uh that meeting that uh councelor Joe Drower just announced is uh for the current program year uh which ends at uh um uh the end of the month. We had two agencies that after the um executive orders came down from uh the uh president's office chose not to contract uh to receive their award. And so uh with peace incorporated uh they've asked to transition their award and uh to their tax prep program from their weatherization program. Uh the tax pack tax prep program. I know many of you are familiar with it. It's an excellent program um and really ensures that people are not just compliant but they get free tax services rather than going to H&R uh or some of the other places and and pay for them.

So those are two different submissions. Can we do that?

So uh this fits within uh these two changes fit within the HUD rules. Uh so uh we can do that as long as we do this as long as we have a public process to it. And so we did uh so the other one is that we are taking center state CEO decided to uh completely forgo their workforce uh development award. So we were simply adding that money into home headquarters urgent care program you know we we know is just incredibly popular. Uh but yeah the um uh we need to do this the standard process that we're do uh we just did with the program year uh 42. So, we've got an open comment period that um uh is a 30-day period. Uh it started uh March 9th, went through April 8th. Uh our department meeting uh public meeting was March 25th. We did not have uh anybody come forward and speak at that meeting. And I just want to be clear for my colleagues that the reasoning for this is because of the whole reporting um situation that is so these organizations didn't want to have to do that so they wanted to reallocate the fund. So

yeah, thank you councelor. Any questions? Okay. Thanks. Thank you. So item 41 will also be held until after the public hearing. Okay. Thank you. Um and um that's still you. Oh yes. Um item 42 is the appropriation of funds for cash capital for something. Okay.

Good afternoon again. Uh yes, as councelor Jones Razer was saying, um this is a request to appropriate cash capital uh in the amount of 108,388.83. 83 cents. Um, this is a administrative requirement for our New York State grant for our broadband infrastructure. Um, the fee is payable to Empire State Development, which is the funer. Um, and this uh needs to be paid before they will accept our first request for reimbursement, which we just passed that milestone. So, we'd really like to be able to submit our reimbursement request. Um that's uh about an $8 million reimbursement. Um so we'd really like to collect that. Um and so we just

unlock the the grant. Yeah, we just need to pay the administrative fee associated with the grant before they will pay us. So So do you have like like a sense of because we I mean the state owes us quite a bit of money, correct? From other you know grants. Yes. Do you do you have a sense of when this is coming?

Um well so they they tell us for this program um it's been taking other grtors that have been you know doing their reimbursements. It's been taking about four weeks from the time you submit the reimbursement in their portal to getting you know them approving it to getting paid. Um every grantor is obviously a little bit different. you know, I know it's it's all the state of New York, but um so I I I have no reason to believe that that's not true, but we can't even, you know, have them start the process to review our voucher until we pay this. Any other questions? [clears throat] Okay. Thank you, Council Roman.

Thank you, President Bena. I have items 43 through 46. Hey, we're okay with 43. Councelor Aar just had a couple questions on that. Those have been resolved, so you can go right to 44. Very good. Uh item number 44 is a special use permit to approve a greenhouse manufacturing plant use. This is for accessory residential green houses. They're basically like sheds. Um at [clears throat] 2956 East Jese Street, uh planning commission recommends approval. They meet all the approval criteria. Are you go ahead?

Okay. So, Jake, um, this falls within my district and I have gotten some outreach from a number of individuals. I know that two of them were at the planning commission that night speaking in opposition to the project. Um, will you run me through the kind of the nuance of the application because the way that I understand it, it would not be allowed under the current reszone. So there we had a complete application prior to amendments made last October uh for this use. So it continues under the code at that time. So it's a permitted use by special use permit which isn't allowed use. Just as a reminder, there's just a higher level of review which we went through. Uh and they check all the boxes. Um what I will say is planning commission was very intentional in the conditions that are attached to this recommendation. um that it will be exclusively for maybe uh greenhouse manufacturing. So if any they were to sell it after six months like you know somebody couldn't move in and start to say now I'm going to build houses here or I'm going to build something else. Um they'd have to come back and get a special use permit. So, it's it's very uh the conditions limit it to exactly what they're applying for, which is all interior. Um it's all done inside and then it's delivered to residential houses. Um and there's limits to trucking routes, the timing of pickups and deliveries and the activity. All that was considered and thought about throughout the entire process with the planning commission. Will you just for me I know that Commissioner Collins explained it. What is that exact change that impacted this parcel and what was it? What is it? And how do we you know how do we fit within that?

So with uh within that zone district that the use of the general manufacturing land use is no longer permitted in that district in the after the amendment was made. So that's that was the change. Sorry. What was that? the land use category that this is under prior to the amendment in October of last year, it was permitted. The change makes it no longer permissible in that zone district. But um where's the land use? Uh general manufacturing you next to this is going next to the Dollar General. Uh yeah, it's a wooded area down on the at the south end of Jese Street if you're headed towards Ningham. It's on the right side. Next to the Bulldogs.

What's that? I'm next to the Bulldogs, right? Oh, [laughter] it's it's on the way. It's on. Yeah. So, it's right in that it's right in that in that quarters over there. You didn't get it, Jay. I'm We're bulldogs. I'm a bulldog. Yeah, Jake. They just make the company just makes little backyard. Yeah. So, they're 10 by 10 by 15. It's It's basically Looks like a shed, but it's a greenhouse for people to put in their backyard to have, you know, plants and and Yeah. Okay, more questions.

Hey, um Cory, what were some of the concerns? Do we know like the concerns that um um ranging from I know the traffic was one of them for sure. Um, you know, I think that typical concerns related to manufacturing facilities, but then also one of them, you know, one of the women who came down to the planning commission was concerned with the what is now non-conforming use of the site compared to, you know, the old zoning code, new versus old zoning code.

Thank you. Uh, next is also a special use permit to approve a smoking establishment business at 911 North Salina Street. This is for a uh New York State licensed cannabis dispensary. Um, similar to item 44, it meets all the criteria uh of the zoning code. And we're going to go into approval. We're going to go into executive session for this one after. Yep. I just if there's any other questions or anything that we can talk about here, we can do that. Yeah, Sue's here. she's going to work on going. There isn't any kind of um with with this being next to the church, there's a community center, the youth center. It's like isn't there like a

I'm just Isn't there like 550? So, not to speak for New York State, but it meets the New York State's requirements for licensing and it meets our requirements for land use for a smoking establishment. And this is the first time this came in front of us, correct? Since it is a similar uh prior to October of last year, we did not have a smoking establishment. So these fell under retail general, which is more broad like it could be a clothing store was in that same category. So we kind of narrowed it, which we can do at the local level through zoning. Uh and we put it into its own category for smoking establishment um by special use permit.

That's the only reason why it's coming in. That's correct. Previously, it would have been an administrative review as retail general. We would have made them get a C of view and building permits and that's all the other ones have opened prior to October of last year in within city limits. You guys normally won't get these in front of you.

So, uh Jake, I have a couple questions. Number one, I did not appreciate the planning commission rammed this through. It's a 4hour meeting. It ran through quarter to 10. I think we should have paused and waited to have more voices heard on on both sides of the issue. It went through um

across the street there is an illegal shop. There's a cannabis shop. I've been told by Mr. Kani it's doing business. And I've asked why haven't we shut that down? Hasn't been shut down. It's still open. It's still open. It's doing illegal business. That's that's that's an issue I have. One voice we've not heard and he's Captain Trell, the Syracuse Police. I'd like to get his opinion on this. I'd like to get his opinion on this because this is the department that's going to have to handle all those calls. Whether there's going to be an incident where the property owner, Mr. Kapani might be, you know, his security might be challenged as well. So, I really would like um the voice of the Syracuse Police Department because their voice has not been heard except for Lieutenant Roma who's told me he has a lot of reservations. So, I'm concerned about that in the safety.

May I address the board before Chief Tradelle comes up?

Go ahead, sir. Sue Katzoff, Corporation Council for the City of Syracuse. First of all, I apologize for my attire. I wasn't planning on being in city hall today, so please excuse please excuse the jeans. Um, the issue with illegal shops um come before my office. We work handinhand with codes to try to site them in a manner that will allow us to be successful when we go to court. SPD works with us, but it is very difficult for them to shut down on their own illegal establishments because that trips a criminal statute which you need the DA to prosecute. So, we have found a way internally to go after these shops because they violate our code. But it is not something my office or codes can do overnight. You have to build a case. You have to serve. There's a lot of things that go on. But we have been very successful in shutting down illegal establishments.

So, are they open while you're building the case or can we shut them down while you're building? I can't I can't I can't legally I can't, but we try to identify them and go after them as quickly as we can. As I'm sure you can appreciate, we all have limited resources, but we have a task force in my office that works directly with codes on all sorts of violations. That being one of them, large apartment complexes another. So there's a lot going on that we try to address in a way that we can do it most efficiently. So is this particular shop that um councelor Na'vi is talking about on the radar right now? Yes. Where's my Yes. Yes. Let me just say yes it is.

Yeah. But if you want to know I mean I can't tell you legally exactly what we're doing but all illegal under I understand that. So, thank you. You're welcome. We'll turn it over to Chief Trudeau. Sue, do you want us to have Chief Do you want us to have Chief Trudeau come into executive session with us? That's exactly what I was going to ask. Okay. Okay. Yeah, we'll do that. Thank you.

I I'm going to put it out there and it's nothing against businesses. Um please don't take this against cuz I think we need more [clears throat] businesses in our community. But I'm going to be very transparent in that neighborhood as well as on the west side. We allow certain businesses open. I just watched somebody just have a overdose on some um right in that neighborhood on my way here. And it is already a neighborhood that is decimated with drugs and alcohol and people falling out. And I'm just concerned um about when we put those things in neighborhoods. First of all, the vandalism that's going to happen, right? Because when people need what they need, they're going to get it. And then second of all, what we're offering a community that's already dealing with crisis that north side that connects to the west side. It just hurts my heart because I don't know if that makes sense for the community. So, I'm just speaking that transparency. I would encourage the board to go into executive session to discuss this, but I also would like to your um points to make it clear that the establishment seeking the SUP is a legal establishment for cannabis and cannabis only um products that are authorized in New York State as legal. What you're discussing, and I completely appreciate that, are illegal narcotics that are causing those kinds of deaths.

No, I'm talking about legal just like the liquor store and everything. It's it's just where they're located, where people are. So, not Marty was talking about their illegal ones. There's legal things that are people are having access to is still causing right that neighborhood over there. I literally just watched somebody in like a a block away was having an overdose, right? So, I'm I'm not saying that. I don't The businesses aren't needed. Absolutely. And there's people that definitely need it. you know, they get prescriptions, but in that neighborhood, just like liquor stores are certain places, it's just it puts people that are already in vulnerable need access to things that they really shouldn't be accessing. That's my only concern. So, I'm just speaking that. So,

it's feeling different. It is. And I just want to raise one point is because I am concerned about the safety of the potential new owners of the Copani family. I'm concerned about their concern safety goes along. They say other business across the street. I'm afraid of retribution towards them. Okay, we'll do executive session for that. Jake 46.

Uh last one. This is a uh zone change uh amendment from a resubdivision at 910 Belleview. It's on a corner. They basically combined with a lot next door because they want to do a driveway and a fence. Um so there were different zones. So, we've done this a diff a number of times before you where we don't want a split zone parcel. So, just kind of change the entire new big parcel into a new zone. This was the one that Lamp Bank spoke on, right? Yeah. And and it's it's it's so they can add a driveway and a fence. Any questions on that one? Okay. All right. So, we're going to move to executive session uh to discuss item 45, smoking establishments. Second. Thank you.

Because they they