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Syracuse City Council Meeting Summary – August 11, 2025

Public MeetingsMonday, August 11, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, August 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
3:49

Councillor Hulk.

3:51

Thank you, President Hudson.

3:52

Uh, I'm holding uh nine A pending uh a meeting with the residents of Welch Terrace, and nine B is ready.

4:01

Thank you.

4:02

And I have item ten, and I'm gonna call that ready.

4:06

Councillor Clark.

4:08

Thank you, Madam President, and blessings to all today.

4:11

I have items eleven through eighteen.

4:19

No, we're all set.

4:20

Thank you, Madame President.

4:21

Thank you.

4:22

Councilman McGill.

4:29

Um seventeen would also be held.

4:34

Again, uh, item eighteen.

4:38

Sorry about that.

4:41

Chief email said that they was going to withdraw that.

4:45

I don't know what he's gonna still do.

4:48

Okay, we're gonna withdraw that.

4:50

Okay.

4:51

What about item nineteen chief?

4:55

That's fine.

5:00

No, no, no.

5:01

We're withdrawing number 18.

5:04

Okay.

5:04

18.

5:05

That was he withdraw.

5:06

So 17 and 19.

5:07

17, you wanted to have a 17, we will hold it.

5:10

Uh 18 was drawn.

5:13

Um it's okay.

5:20

If it's good to go, unless if anyone has questions.

5:25

Okay.

5:27

And then 19 is good to go.

5:31

Okay.

5:31

Yeah.

5:32

Uh 20 is good.

5:33

21 is good to go.

5:35

22 is good to go.

5:36

We will hold 23 for a committee meeting.

5:39

Okay.

5:40

Oh, yeah.

5:40

Okay.

5:41

Yeah.

5:41

Right.

5:42

Whole committee meeting.

5:44

We want to look at the overall ambulatory operation and stuff like that.

5:50

So, and um our uh one of our colleagues is gonna be reaching out uh to the department to make a to make the appropriate arrangement for a committee meeting.

6:00

Thank you.

6:01

Yeah.

6:02

Any other questions?

6:03

Yes, we uh I was just I mean you you're holding the medical transport response.

6:08

Yes, number two and the three is getting held for a committee meeting.

6:11

Chief, would you like?

6:12

No.

6:13

Did you have questions on 23?

6:15

It's it's those questions are too long for for this meeting.

6:18

So we'll we will arrange as soon as possible a committee meeting so that those questions for the councillors can be answered.

6:25

Understood.

6:26

All right.

6:27

Um so again, Madam President, 17 is getting held.

6:32

We are withdrawing 18.

6:34

Uh the 19, 22 and 1 are good to go.

6:37

21 is good to go, 23 is being held.

6:42

22.

6:43

22 is good to go, yes.

6:47

Okay, yes.

6:50

Um, can I make about 13?

6:52

I just wanna um Commissioner Burr.

6:54

I just want to make sure that um, and I meant to say this uh last meeting.

6:58

I apologize I have to come back, but for the um parks monuments and fountains improvements.

7:04

Can we try?

7:04

I know last time and you it was way before your time that when they did they fixed the fountains, they had to go out of the city to find someone to fix it because you know those founts have been here for so long and again.

7:16

Could you can we try our best to try to get local people?

7:19

If not, then there's sorry, come um Sayshabur Commissioner Parks.

7:24

There's a um it's a current existing project.

7:27

The vault at Hanover Square collapsed.

7:29

And so this ask is for handover.

7:31

The reason we didn't ask for cash capital because we're out of cash capital.

7:35

Um and that's why we're asking for this money.

7:38

It's an emergency repair to the vault that has collapsed at handover.

7:43

It's a current project.

7:44

And are we using a local vendor?

7:47

Okay, that's and I can get you that information.

7:49

They've been working on it.

7:51

They've been working on it, it just kind of collapsed.

7:53

Okay.

7:53

And you're this is so you're saying you're out of cash capital for 25.

7:58

We're out of cash capital.

8:00

We only have cash capital for um 35,000 for art.

8:05

I know the um uh what is that uh appendix or a uh schedule A?

8:09

It says a couple other parts.

8:11

That's if you have money leftovers besides yeah, but right now it's an emergency repair for handover.

8:17

Okay, so we will have a on different parks up.

8:21

We'll set up a committee meeting too for next week.

8:24

Thank you.

8:25

Okay, I before we move on.

8:26

I just wanted to go back to 23 just to remind everybody that it that is at no cost to the city, they were the only ones to uh answer the RFP because they're the only ones that can actually do this job with the city.

8:40

Uh okay, just to put that out there.

8:42

Yeah, we we we we got that.

8:44

The only thing here is that just too many questions for counselors to be answered in the study session.

8:50

Just wanted to bring that up.

8:51

Yeah, it's good to have commitments.

8:52

Yeah, all righty, counselor Paniago.

8:56

Um I have item number 24.

8:59

If there are no other questions, this is ready.

9:02

Thank you.

9:03

Um Councillor Matters for Councilor Gatherers.

9:06

Thank you, President Hudson.

9:07

Counselor Gathers has 25 through 29.

9:11

We're going to hold 25.

9:12

We're gonna hold 26.

9:14

27, 28, and 29 are ready.

9:20

Councilor.

9:21

Uh thank you, President Hudson.

9:22

I have items 30 through 35, 30 and 31 are ready.

9:27

32 are contained and 33 are companion pieces, and we'll hold them.

9:32

Uh 34 is ready, 35 will hold councillor Penny Avenue, Councillor Williams.

9:42

So Councillor Williams has from items 36 to 41.

9:48

And if there's no further discussion, he did send an email clarifying the points we were trying to discuss before.

9:56

And so they're all ready if there's no further discussion.

10:00

We we had a discussion last week and we had asked if there could be a vetting done in terms of whether these had the RFP prior.

10:17

Counselor um what is his name?

10:23

I can't think of his name.

10:25

We guys okay cool I'm sorry about that.

10:32

I know Vinny sent the email um that counselor Williams shared okay you know it you know it had good significant information in there but Benny might want to sorry I apologize for the tardiness um can you repeat uh your question no I was just it I was just asking what what was the was there any RFP at all and it was just a case yeah it doesn't appear for these items that there was at the time yeah okay these were all more than 10 years old approximately um we are open to some of them are very critical one for example IPS um that our codes department uses on a daily basis so uh not I just want to emphasize the how critical it is that this one at least is renewed this time around um that is also a system that we've been interested in exploring uh other alternatives for just to modernize it um so we're open to the conversation of you know uh exploring an RFP for that one to find a new system did send out an email yeah yeah yeah I send some correspondence on Friday we sent you and what it reveals it's been a long standing process basically correct you know for waivers it's been a long standing process you're saying practice practice yes success of administrations basically yeah I mean these were all done prior to this administration and and set in different council bodies as well yeah which isn't a great idea but we need opening up yeah I agree it doesn't necessarily mean we should be continuing to do it the same way the question is is like uh there is um renewals on there are you guys uh like it's a one year agreement with two one year renewal options like do are you guys saying or that you guys want to um approve for a three year up well for the one year and then come back in front of the council by the renewal one or just want to do one year without the renewal yeah one year because if not then nobody will ever get a chance because it's always going to be favorable for a consultation Joe for uh for only um 37 and 29 38 38 38 is the MWB so I think that's that's 38 was kind of like approving it um and vetted process her name got up and and spoke up on uh the vetting process she went through for 38 yeah yeah uh 37 and 39 can we get a um legislation with just for one year and take the two year uh off before the one o'clock because right now they're one year with two one year renewal options or 37 38 37 and 38 uh 37 and 39 we're talking about not 38 not 36 oh and 36 too yeah 36 um i think let me find my glasses yeah so 36 37 and 39 can we um can we uh amend that legislation just before one year before one o'clock not to pressure you joe no one handle it Joe Barry first assistant corporation counsel so the contract has been proposed and approved by the mayor in the form that it's before you uh technically the council can't change the terms without the mayor's consent okay so the contract how the contract been approved before it came to the council to vote on this should have been um a mayoral approval letter attached yeah the mayor waived the RFP process for the terms that are proposed yeah so what I'm saying is that we get a new letter basically saying that it'd be one year and then I don't think you're gonna get that before one o'clock that's the problem then you guys want to hold it or not want to do it.

14:35

Yeah can you can you hold it well Cory wanted to move them it's not really my you know so but if they can't if the council wants to hold it then we'll know by one o'clock whether we'll hold them because we've got to talk to counselor uh Williams right yeah yeah I would really be comfortable if we can hold this and figure these details out if you the I just to clarify the way it's drafted now the each renewal would come back to the council so you can approve next year a one year renewal but the following year you can say no.

15:00

If you the uh just to clarify the way it's drafted now, the each renewal would come back to the council.

15:05

So you can approve next year a one-year renewal, but the following year you can say no.

15:11

Right.

15:12

Or is it down next year?

15:13

So you all know how that works.

15:16

And I think that was Corey's.

15:20

It comes back to the house, but yeah.

15:23

No, we need not look at it.

15:25

So you still have the ability to turn it down without changing the ordinance.

15:31

How imperative is this to get voted today?

15:34

Is it something that we could wait for two weeks?

15:36

Uh unfortunately, uh, in my opinion, no.

15:39

Uh IPS, particularly the item number 39.

15:43

All of them are uh I would say passed through at this point because the last cycle, these got held as well.

15:48

Um again, 39 is for IPS, which is used by codes on a daily basis, and uh effectively would bring operations to a halt if uh we were not able to get this through.

15:59

So um speaking on the council, and I think we're we're all at the point that it's not that we're against it.

16:07

We just want to make sure that it's being fair to other people because every year it'll be like, oh, we need them, you know.

16:13

It comes back to the thing, or we need them, and we don't allow other RPs out to see what's else is available because it's always like we need it now, you know.

16:22

So ordinance is drafted allowed to do that.

16:27

You don't have to exercise.

16:29

No, I'm I'm okay if you guys are okay, or whatever you want to do.

16:32

I'm okay with passing this.

16:34

Counselor, if I can ask if the LCP tracker item can be remain with the terms.

16:39

Yeah, there is that's not even a question about yeah, that's not even a question.

16:43

Why don't you guys talk a little bit more after we'll we'll know by one o'clock?

16:48

Okay.

16:48

That's by one o'clock.

16:50

Understood.

16:50

Yeah, yes.

16:54

Okay, thank you.

16:56

Counselor John Raoul.

16:59

Oh, I'm sorry, didn't we say 412?

17:05

Okay.

17:06

All right.

17:08

Thank you.

17:09

I have items um 42 through 51.

17:15

Um item 42.

17:20

We were good.

17:21

I don't know if you want to talk about it, but we're good with that counselor rouser.

17:27

I can grin from the gallery or come up and say hi.

17:29

Um commission of assessment.

17:32

Hey man.

17:33

Chad is here.

17:33

We so appreciate his efforts, uh, enthusiastic about keeping this uh keeping this going for another five.

17:40

Anybody have questions?

17:42

No, okay.

17:42

Thanks, Matt.

17:43

Thank you, Chad.

17:44

Thank you.

17:46

Uh 43 is an agreement with tomorrow's neighborhoods today.

17:50

Um you have any questions?

17:58

Yeah.

17:58

Oh, I don't have any questions.

18:00

You want to thank you.

18:03

Um 44 is the uh questions.

18:11

Anybody have no questions?

18:11

Home ownership development.

18:12

Yeah, no.

18:13

Nobody have questions on this.

18:15

No, but I would like to say go ahead.

18:17

43.

18:18

Uh, just want to let you all know in the packet we did receive the report, Helen that you was asking about.

18:26

But yeah, I saw that okay.

18:28

Council, as you continue to go through.

18:30

I know no one has questions.

18:32

42 through 44, but I would like to withdraw um 44 to 51, if you please.

18:37

44?

18:39

45 to 51.

18:40

45 through 51.

18:42

So withdraw.

18:43

Withdraw them.

18:44

Yep.

18:45

Okay.

18:46

Any okay.

18:50

Okay.

18:51

No, just withdraw until we do some more further trying to outreach to the family.

18:55

Okay.

18:56

All right.

18:57

Good afternoon, counselor's common Jordan, director of housing and neighborhood planning.

19:01

Any questions I can answer regarding 45 through 51?

19:05

No, we just want to do more outreach to the families.

19:07

Um, to make sure that some of them know what's going to give them a little to do more outreach.

19:12

We got to do more outreach on these families.

19:15

So we're going to withdraw them.

19:17

Thank you, counselors.

19:21

All right, counselor cog.

19:26

All right.

19:26

So that's that's it.

19:28

Thank you, madam president.

19:29

Thank you.

19:31

That's it.

19:32

That's it for her.

19:34

I'm up next.

19:36

Thank you, madam president.

19:37

I have um resolutions.

19:40

Um, either waivers uh for resolutions for one is honoring the extraordinary um life and legacy of Dr.

19:47

Ruben Cole.

19:49

Um many of you uh he passed away, but he was a pioneer of creating the community health center that we have here today.

19:58

Um, and we changed lives in our community.

20:01

So that's one for item 52 and 53 is another resolution that um our whole council is uh supporting 100%.

20:11

We've been working on this for a long time coming.

20:14

I'm requesting approval that Onodaga County Department of Planning for the naming of one out of three new public streets to be created as part of the Syracuse Developmental Center in honor of Helen D.

20:27

Hudson in relations to the Boulevard Wave of Lane as the uh detail and legislations honor of Madam President.

20:42

We are honored, madam president, to um be a part of helping making this happen.

20:48

Thank you.

20:49

Um so there is a process.

20:51

You all know.

20:51

Um Joe, would you get up um kind of like give a briefer?

20:55

We don't have to go deep.

20:57

This this resolution is that kind of only strengthened whatever.

21:03

Yes, uh Joe Barry again, first assistant corporation counsel.

21:07

The uh county has a local law that requires individual municipalities to submit names to the Onondaga County Department of Planning in order to keep the names consistent throughout the county for 911 emergency response purposes.

21:24

So this would make that formal request to the county for the name uh identified, and after that process is over, the planning commission could continue with its process under the city charter to review the overall project with the suggested names, which would come to the council as a street dedication.

21:50

Any other questions?

21:51

anybody did um did they ever follow up with giving us the information on the the other people at all?

21:59

That's gonna come back that gotta come back to us.

22:02

Yes, I think it has to be.

22:03

I guess submitted it when they're ready for it to come back to us for that would be a question for the planning commission and their staff.

22:11

Yeah, huh?

22:12

Yeah, no, we haven't heard back.

22:14

Okay.

22:16

All righty.

22:23

Second.

22:24

All in favor, uh

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Procurement██████████████████████23%
Public Engagement████████████████17%
Parks and Recreation████████████13%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Meeting Summary – August 11, 2025

The Syracuse City Council met on August 11, 2025, to review and act on a wide range of agenda items, including waivers, contracts, resolutions, and public works projects. Councillors held several items for further discussion or committee review, withdrew others, and approved numerous resolutions and contracts. Key discussions centered on emergency park repairs, contract renewal terms, and a street naming resolution.

Discussion Items

  • Item 9A (Welch Terrace meeting): Held pending a meeting with residents.
  • Item 9B: Declared ready for approval.
  • Item 10: Declared ready.
  • Items 11–18: Item 17 held; Item 18 withdrawn; Items 19, 20, 21, 22 declared ready. Item 23 held for a committee meeting on the city’s ambulatory operation.
  • Item 13 (Parks Monuments and Fountains): Commissioner Burr raised concerns about using local vendors for the emergency repair of a collapsed vault at Hanover Square. Parks Commissioner stated cash capital is exhausted for fiscal year 2025, and the request is an emergency repair. A committee meeting will be scheduled.
  • Items 30–35: Items 30 and 31 declared ready; Items 32 and 33 (companion pieces) held; Item 34 declared ready; Item 35 held.
  • Items 36–41 (Waivers and RFPs): Councillor Williams presented these items. Councillors expressed concern about the lack of an RFP process for renewals, particularly for IPS (Item 39), which is critical for daily codes department operations. Corporation counsel Joe Barry explained that the council cannot unilaterally change contract terms without the mayor’s consent. Councillors sought one-year terms without renewal options. It was agreed to discuss further and decide by 1:00 p.m. whether to hold or pass the items.
  • Items 42–44: Approved. Item 42: agreement with assessment commission; Item 43: agreement with Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today; Item 44: home ownership development agreement.
  • Items 45–51: Withdrawn to allow more outreach to affected families.
  • Items 52–53: Resolutions. Item 52: honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Ruben Cole. Item 53: requesting Onondaga County Department of Planning to name a new street in honor of Helen D. Hudson. Corporation counsel explained the process. Both resolutions were unanimously approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Held: Items 9A, 17, 23, 25, 26, 32, 33, 35, and pending decision on Items 36–39.
  • Withdrawn: Items 18, 45–51.
  • Approved (declared ready): Items 9B, 10, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 42, 43, 44, and Resolutions 52 and 53.
  • Next steps: A committee meeting will be scheduled for Item 23 (medical transport response) and for parks-related discussions. Further outreach will be conducted on Items 45–51. A decision on Items 36–39 is expected by 1:00 p.m. on the same day.

Meeting Transcript

Councillor Hulk. Thank you, President Hudson. Uh, I'm holding uh nine A pending uh a meeting with the residents of Welch Terrace, and nine B is ready. Thank you. And I have item ten, and I'm gonna call that ready. Councillor Clark. Thank you, Madam President, and blessings to all today. I have items eleven through eighteen. No, we're all set. Thank you, Madame President. Thank you. Councilman McGill. Um seventeen would also be held. Again, uh, item eighteen. Sorry about that. Chief email said that they was going to withdraw that. I don't know what he's gonna still do. Okay, we're gonna withdraw that. Okay. What about item nineteen chief? That's fine. No, no, no. We're withdrawing number 18. Okay. 18. That was he withdraw. So 17 and 19. 17, you wanted to have a 17, we will hold it. Uh 18 was drawn. Um it's okay. If it's good to go, unless if anyone has questions. Okay. And then 19 is good to go. Okay. Yeah. Uh 20 is good. 21 is good to go. 22 is good to go. We will hold 23 for a committee meeting. Okay. Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Right. Whole committee meeting. We want to look at the overall ambulatory operation and stuff like that. So, and um our uh one of our colleagues is gonna be reaching out uh to the department to make a to make the appropriate arrangement for a committee meeting. Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions?

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