OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Syracuse Joint School Construction Board Meeting - August 28, 2025

Public MeetingsThursday, August 28, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateThursday, August 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:03

Transcript — Verbatim
5:49

Good morning.

5:51

Morning.

5:52

It's my pleasure to step in uh on behalf of Mayor Walsh today, Sharon Owens, Deputy Mayor of the City of Syracuse, uh to uh start the uh August 28th uh JSB meeting.

6:06

Um first wanna start by um official congratulations to Pam.

6:10

Yeah.

6:14

Absolutely, you're gonna be amazing and looking forward to working with you.

6:18

Me too.

6:18

Thank you so much.

6:19

Uh we will start with the acceptance of the July twenty fourth uh minutes.

6:25

Everyone received a copy.

6:27

Yes.

6:28

So entertain a second.

6:33

It has been moved and properly said.

6:35

Second, any abstentions?

6:37

Any objections?

6:38

Hearing none, we'll call that item approved.

6:42

Hey, Steve.

6:43

Good morning.

6:45

Agenda item two, report of the Secretary.

6:48

Yes, good morning, Deputy Mayor.

6:50

Good morning, board members, and welcome back, President Hudson.

6:54

Yes.

6:55

Uh I saw yesterday.

6:57

That's right.

7:02

Uh just a quick update today.

7:04

Uh the PLA feasibility study uh is continuing.

7:08

We're making progress.

7:09

And I hope to have uh some material to bring to the board next sept September's board meeting.

7:16

In addition, at the September board meeting, we'll have Raymond James uh present an update of their financial plan, which is a component of the overall comprehensive plan.

7:28

Uh they're kind of two separate items.

7:31

So today we'll hear from the program manager about the comprehensive plan, more about the buildings, etc.

7:37

And then the finances um at the next board meeting in September.

7:42

Awesome.

7:43

And thank you.

7:44

That completes my report.

7:45

Uh we need a motion for your report.

7:47

Uh no, thank you.

7:49

All right.

7:50

Item three on the agenda, eagerly awaiting the preview of the phase three comprehensive plan from the program manager.

8:04

Morning, everybody.

8:06

I'm looking to set this, but I'm like, you know, not there anymore.

8:09

So we get we got we got a little leaner with the uh with the podium, so no no worries.

8:14

Um so good morning.

8:15

I just uh want to provide an update what we've been working on here for the past several months, uh putting together about five months here.

8:21

We've been putting together the comprehensive plan, which is a total picture of what are we doing, where are we doing it and how we doing it and how we financing it.

8:29

And as Joe mentioned, uh the the deeper dive on the financial plan can come uh I think at your next meeting uh with between Raymond James and fiscal advisors in terms of uh in terms of updating you in in more detail on that.

8:40

So but I will touch on that.

8:42

So the comprehensive plan is fundamentally made up.

8:44

There's there's eight components to it.

8:46

It's a table of contents.

8:48

So our presentation this morning kind of mirrors those eight sections of that uh of the comp plan.

8:53

So I'm gonna kind of give you a a high level fly over of what the contents are there and some bullet points uh related to that.

8:59

So that hopefully I'll give you yeah, because the full report including the financial section is 200 plus pages.

9:05

So hoping to kind of give you a little bit of a uh a condensed version of that today.

9:09

Thank you.

9:10

Um and would ask and would ask that you if you have a question as I go along, please just I'd rather ask it in real time and and be able to answer that for you.

9:18

So uh the eight components that we talked about, I mean overall the goal of the of the program is that we're really trying to renovate spaces um and to give you better alignment with program needs both now and in the future so that the buildings are equipped with that as we as we go forward.

9:36

And fundamentally again, you know, improve how the building functions, you know, an overarching theme is keep the water out, right?

9:44

So between windows and roofs and masonry indoors and anything on your envelope that we're we're preserving your your buildings because many of these need that.

9:53

Um and also being mindful that as we're as we're doing so, um, on some of your buildings you received a double MCA.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Budget Equity Analysis█████████████16%
Procedural███████████13%
Procurement███████9%
Workforce Development███4%
Public Engagement██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse Joint School Construction Board Meeting - August 28, 2025

Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens convened the August 28, 2025 meeting of the Joint School Construction Board (JSCB) on behalf of Mayor Walsh. The board approved the previous month's minutes, received a secretary's report, and heard a detailed presentation on the Phase 3 Comprehensive Plan for school renovations. A resolution authorizing monthly contractor payments was also approved.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved the minutes from the July 24, 2025 meeting (motion, second, no abstentions or objections).

Discussion Items

  • Secretary's Report: Joe reported that the PLA feasibility study is ongoing, with an update expected at the September meeting. Raymond James will present a financial plan update at the September board meeting as part of the overall comprehensive plan.
  • Phase 3 Comprehensive Plan Presentation: The program manager presented an overview of the 200+ page comprehensive plan, covering eight components including building renovations, alignment with program needs, aid eligibility (98% aid ratio), and schedule. Key points:
    • The goal is to renovate spaces, improve building envelopes (e.g., windows, roofs), and ensure buildings are good for 10+ years (double MCA on some buildings).
    • Public input: five meetings (one virtual, four in-person) held; additional input will occur during schematic design, design development, and construction document phases.
    • Schedule and phasing: four phases (A, B, C, D) over approximately 12 years. Phase A (Webster, Seymour, Nottingham) construction starts Q3 2027. Two swing schools will be used. High schools will have phased renovations over three summers.
  • Budget and Inflation Concerns: Commissioner Cordano expressed frustration that the project, originally a 10-year phase starting in 2023, is now projected at 12 years. She noted that inflation will erode the purchasing power of budgets for later buildings (e.g., Roberts and Hanneger renovations not starting until 2031 with $35M and $55M allocations), and urged the board to develop a more effective structure. Program manager acknowledged escalation factors and noted that alternates will be identified to manage bid surprises.
  • State Aid and Debt Limit: Steve and Joe discussed the possibility of seeking additional state legislation to increase the funding cap, noting that the JSCB exists because of the city's constitutional debt limit. The school district may pursue this through the "Big Five" association.
  • Contractor and Labor Pool: A board member raised concerns about sufficient contractors, GCs, and labor given multiple concurrent projects. Program manager emphasized early marketing, dialogues, and pathways to engage young workers.
  • Double MCA: A question was posed about why high schools do not receive double MCA like some smaller buildings. The explanation: high schools generate more aid, and double MCA would prevent another MCA for 10 years, limiting flexibility for additions or future projects.
  • Procurement and MWBE: The diversification plan targets 18% minority-owned, 12% women-owned (total 30% MWBE), 20% residency, and 5% service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Procurement will follow city requirements.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution #7-2025: Authorized monthly payments to all JSB contractors (including the program manager) not to exceed $68,149.70, per Exhibit A. Approved without dissent.
  • Next Steps: The comprehensive plan will be submitted to the State Education Department and State Comptroller's Office in October, with approval targeted by December 2025. RFPs for architectural and construction management services will be presented at the September board meeting. Design for Phase A is expected to begin in Q1 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Morning. It's my pleasure to step in uh on behalf of Mayor Walsh today, Sharon Owens, Deputy Mayor of the City of Syracuse, uh to uh start the uh August 28th uh JSB meeting. Um first wanna start by um official congratulations to Pam. Yeah. Absolutely, you're gonna be amazing and looking forward to working with you. Me too. Thank you so much. Uh we will start with the acceptance of the July twenty fourth uh minutes. Everyone received a copy. Yes. So entertain a second. It has been moved and properly said. Second, any abstentions? Any objections? Hearing none, we'll call that item approved. Hey, Steve. Good morning. Agenda item two, report of the Secretary. Yes, good morning, Deputy Mayor. Good morning, board members, and welcome back, President Hudson. Yes. Uh I saw yesterday. That's right. Uh just a quick update today. Uh the PLA feasibility study uh is continuing. We're making progress. And I hope to have uh some material to bring to the board next sept September's board meeting. In addition, at the September board meeting, we'll have Raymond James uh present an update of their financial plan, which is a component of the overall comprehensive plan. Uh they're kind of two separate items. So today we'll hear from the program manager about the comprehensive plan, more about the buildings, etc. And then the finances um at the next board meeting in September. Awesome. And thank you. That completes my report. Uh we need a motion for your report. Uh no, thank you. All right. Item three on the agenda, eagerly awaiting the preview of the phase three comprehensive plan from the program manager. Morning, everybody. I'm looking to set this, but I'm like, you know, not there anymore. So we get we got we got a little leaner with the uh with the podium, so no no worries. Um so good morning. I just uh want to provide an update what we've been working on here for the past several months, uh putting together about five months here. We've been putting together the comprehensive plan, which is a total picture of what are we doing, where are we doing it and how we doing it and how we financing it. And as Joe mentioned, uh the the deeper dive on the financial plan can come uh I think at your next meeting uh with between Raymond James and fiscal advisors in terms of uh in terms of updating you in in more detail on that. So but I will touch on that. So the comprehensive plan is fundamentally made up. There's there's eight components to it. It's a table of contents.

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