Syracuse Common Council Voting Session - July 28, 2025

This voting session of the Syracuse Common Council, held on July 28, 2025, addressed a large number of agenda items, including holds, ready items, and discussions on policy and operations. Key topics included updates on outreach worker funding, body cameras for code inspectors, property title issues, and zone changes.

Discussion Items

• Item 20-24: Item 20 was ready, Item 21 held for policy review, Items 22, 23, and 24 were ready. For Item 23, the city will fund two of seven positions (about one third) for outreach workers, as confirmed by the county.
• Item 21: Held because several councilors wanted to review the policy before voting.
• Item 25-38: Items 25 and 26 held; Items 27 and 28 ready; Items 29 through 38 all set.
• Item 40-57: Various holds: Items 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48, 49 held (some related to abandonments and zone changes). Items 44, 46, 50-55 (zone changes), 56, 57 ready. Item 47 will be voted on and a public hearing advertised for August 11.
• Item 58-69: Item 58 will include an effective date of September 1 and a 30-day notice period. Items 60-63 held due to questions about the RFP process for digital services. Items 64-69 ready.
• Item 70-105: Item 70 ready. Item 71 updated to reflect approximately 100 units (corrected from 115). Items 72-74 ready. Tax foreclosure items 75-105 ready, but Items 92 and 93 (properties at 124 and 128 Lafayette) were noted as houses, not vacant lots; the director will recheck tax records.
• Body Cameras for Code Inspectors: A councilor reported seeing a code inspector wearing a body camera without council approval. Discussion revealed that the funding was cut from the budget and a policy was never completed. One inspector purchased a camera privately. The administration acknowledged the issue and will address it immediately. Broader data governance policy also discussed.
• Item 106: Resolution amendment for the Harriet Tubman Legacy Way with verbiage corrections.
• Item 107: Ready.
• Items 108-111: IT items ready, short-term to get RFPs out.

Key Outcomes

• Holds: Items 21, 25, 26, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 48, 49, 60-63, 92, 93 (pending correction) and others were held for further review.
• Ready Items: Most items were deemed ready for voting, including zone changes, tax foreclosures, and several resolutions.
• Body Camera Policy: Council directed immediate action to address unauthorized use of body cameras and to develop a comprehensive data governance policy.
• Property Title Issue: The administration will work with Salt City Assessment to resolve title irregularities on several dozen properties in Eastwood.
• Motion to Adjourn: Passed unanimously.