OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Study Session - September 15, 2025

Public MeetingsMonday, September 15, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, September 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
5:09

We are getting ready to start our study session.

5:13

Number five will be a public hearing tonight at 5 30 in the chambers.

5:19

I have number 9, and that is going to be withdrawn.

5:23

Councillor Carla.

5:25

Thank you, Madam President.

5:28

Yeah.

5:30

Mike check.

5:31

You got a mic.

5:31

I got a mic, mic check.

5:33

Okay.

5:33

Lessons all everyone today.

5:36

I have items nine through no, excuse me, 10 through 13.

5:40

And we're already, unless they love Bellow Consults have any questions.

5:44

That's not thanks, Councillor.

5:46

Thank you, Madam President.

5:47

Alrighty.

5:47

Councillor McJock is not here yet.

5:51

So who's on public safety?

5:52

Okay.

5:53

I'll be taking counselor jokes.

5:55

Thank you, Madam President.

5:56

Um have items 14 through 32.

6:01

Um item 14 uh is being held today for a public hearing, and we'll have a committee meeting on that tomorrow as well.

6:09

Item 31 will be withdrawn.

6:13

Um pending uh the committee meeting, I believe.

6:16

No, just withdraw.

6:18

Okay, withdraw.

6:19

Um and all other items are ready.

6:23

Thank you.

6:27

Councilor Peniago.

6:29

Good afternoon.

6:30

Um thank you, Madam President.

6:32

My I have items 33, uh, and 35.

6:37

33 and 34.

6:38

If there are no further questions, are ready.

6:41

I will continue to hold 35.

6:44

Counselor.

6:45

33 is a local law, so it's an automatic table.

6:48

Um there we go.

6:49

Thank you.

6:50

And introduced in table, sorry.

6:52

Okay, introduce the table on 33.

6:55

34 is ready.

6:56

35 is held.

7:00

Councillor Gavers.

7:02

Thank you, Madam President.

7:03

I have items 36 through 48.

7:05

Um for item number 36.

7:07

Uh, could you could could could you come up, please?

7:14

36.

7:17

Uh afternoon, Connor Muldoon, Chief Operating Officer.

7:20

Just explaining um the steam school situation along with this as well, even though we are going to have a committee meeting um regarding this on Wednesday.

7:28

Yep, so my understanding is that our Wednesday committee meeting uh will be with Genoptic.

7:32

They're how the representative there.

7:33

Um largely the focus will be around data privacy and security, but happy to discuss anything uh else.

7:38

This is an item uh the revocable permission that's been on the agenda for several cycles now.

7:43

Um a reminder again that this is about uh insurance and liability for Genoptic to place their equipment within the right of way.

7:52

We do have some levels of assurance through uh general liability uh work.

7:57

This is more about um damages in case any of our equipment would get uh uh damaged in the uh installation, and then about um if the equipment were to be like hit by a truck or something like that, sharing the cost of removing and replacing that equipment.

8:16

The issue at the steam school is that there are uh some underground conduits that are fairly old, older than some of the other ones that are being utilized.

8:24

Um and there's existing uh electrical equipment within there.

8:29

Uh Ken Towsley uh has cautioned us that we would pre uh he'd prefer for us to have this liability in place in order for us to commence with the installation of the speed cameras at the same school.

8:42

Uh counselors, given the uh issues in the time that we are gonna have uh a uh committee meeting on this on Wednesday.

8:49

Um if you don't mind, I I could vote on this today if it's okay with everybody, and we'll go forward with that.

8:55

What number is that?

8:56

36.

8:57

36.

8:58

Okay, that'll be good.

8:59

Item number 38, we are gonna hold uh for the committee meeting on Wednesday.

9:03

Uh all other items are ready.

9:05

So 36 is good.

9:06

Um the only item we're holding will be 38, and all of us are ready.

9:10

Thank you.

9:11

Sorry, he said 38 was being held.

9:13

Yes.

9:13

Yes.

9:15

Councillor Nave.

9:17

Thank you, madam president.

9:20

Today I'm going to appoint Octavia Gernhardt to the Citizens Review Board.

9:24

She is here today.

9:26

And I ask for your support.

9:30

Thank you.

9:31

Thank you.

9:33

Just a letter of recognition was received.

9:35

So he um what was it?

9:38

Oliver resigned.

9:41

Voluntarily resigned, so it's okay to go for it.

9:44

Thank you.

9:46

Councillor Hogan.

9:47

Okay, thank you, uh President Hudson.

9:49

50 and 51 are ready.

9:51

Uh 52, 53, and 54.

9:54

Um I'm gonna ask the commissioner of the shutman to come up.

9:56

Um, I understand it's 52.

10:00

Um, despite the groundbreaking on South Avenue, uh they did not uh uh secure or even apply for the LITECEC funding, correct?

10:08

We've learned that uh yeah, South Side Renaissance, sorry, Matt Commissioner of Assessment.

10:12

Have learned the Southside Renaissance um ultimately did not file its uh HCR application on Thursday.

10:18

Um BLD with the project at 680 South Avenue did um so we're you know eager to move forward on both of these.

10:25

It's not so it's not out of the ordinary that we might ask council to authorize um a shelter rent agreement for an entity that doesn't ultimately get through that year's round of applications.

10:34

It'll it'll um you know legally authorize us to negotiate and draft an agreement at such time as they do a apply, B get approved, and and and C move toward a closing.

10:46

A year out, right?

10:47

But they would be about a year out.

10:48

Well, this is the third time that they've made an attempt.

10:52

Second with an asterisk, sure.

10:53

Well, second with an asterisk, I guess so.

10:56

Um the land bank is they got control of the property, but um, you know, we we that means we locken up this property, and hopefully the fourth time they'll end up lie tech funding.

11:08

Hopefully, I mean what we're we're right now locking up the ability to get the city a shelter rent deal on pretty decent terms for the city and get 75 units of affordable housing at such time as they successfully apply um for practical purposes, they're locked into the property and that they're in contract with the land bank.

11:25

That's not necessarily our concern, but I I think it's probably a point in in their and our favor.

11:29

I mean, so I uh you know I think I'm gonna maybe discuss with the leadership of the council and the company the rest of the council whether I push this forward or not.

11:39

Uh this is disturbing disturbing it as much as this property is being sort of like locked up to somebody's not.

11:45

When it's no liability on us, though.

11:47

But no, no liability on us.

11:49

And nobody would sign a contract here until such time as they're able to close.

11:52

So this just preserves their ability to get the deal whenever there's actually a project.

11:58

So Matt, you can tell me as little or as much as you want, but do we know what the hold up on the application is?

12:04

Why they're why they didn't apply?

12:05

No.

12:07

Something might Michael.

12:08

Can we just hold that one just for um just for another week or so to Yeah?

12:15

A cycle.

12:15

Sure won't make a difference.

12:17

There's no project.

12:18

No, there's some language you need to look at the same.

12:19

Yeah, I got questions about the language.

12:21

Uh oh, totally.

12:22

Yeah, no, I would love to get this through as soon as we can, but this isn't gonna delay anything by waiting two weeks.

12:26

Which one is it gonna be locked in as is it gonna be the 525 or is it gonna be the 10% of the gross revenue?

12:31

The greater say it again.

12:33

The the the greater of the two.

12:34

Um which constructively is usually the 525.

12:37

It's easier for finance administratively to just know what the the amount is gonna be every year.

12:42

Is that the process through would all applicants go through this process here?

12:45

Yeah, virtually all of them.

12:46

Okay.

12:47

This is the same sort of deal that we give to other.

12:50

I think the Eastwood deal was commiserate with this, right?

12:53

Maybe maybe maybe 550.

12:54

Um we actually made a deal there.

12:58

It wasn't the same.

12:59

Well, I think it was.

13:00

I think it was sort of like the same thing.

13:02

In broad strokes, we usually I'm only talking about the shelter.

13:05

15 years, 15 year option, 550 or 525 a unit, or 10 percent of gross revenues, less uh utilities, whichever is greater.

13:15

So that's let's just well let's go.

13:18

Yeah, deliberation's cool on this because two weeks won't make a bit of a difference for anybody.

13:22

Okay, uh, and then 50.

13:24

Now to continue, uh 53 didn't have a lot of things.

13:27

What did we do for 50?

13:29

Yeah, okay.

13:30

53 and 54.

13:32

Where did where did they understand?

13:35

Uh they haven't received confirmation yet on the cast here, but we we uh I'll receive that tomorrow.

13:42

But uh believe that they did.

13:44

So that uh would absolutely encourage that we move forward on this.

13:47

Okay, but I I can update uh the uh you can maybe update it before the meeting.

13:53

Yep.

13:55

Okay.

13:56

Um we'll talk in the okay.

14:05

Let's maybe we'll talk in in between here.

14:08

So uh and then 55.

14:11

Uh that's ready.

14:12

56, 57's ready.

14:15

Uh 58, I'm holding for a committee meeting.

14:18

Uh 50 59 is re and 59 is ready.

14:22

58.

14:23

Which one you hold it for committee reincover?

14:25

58.

14:26

Zone changes.

14:28

Um, I know we don't have to wait for on 50.

14:30

Um you gonna you gonna go through that?

14:33

Did we have the um did they have the uh a hearing yet?

14:37

So do you know?

14:38

We we had a public hearing on this.

14:40

No, I I mean I I thought we just last week okay.

14:43

Uh I'm in uh take it now.

14:46

Yeah, next that right.

14:47

They they did it.

14:48

They are they had the here and uh they're hearing already, right?

14:51

Last yeah, yeah, okay.

14:54

We have uh no uh well.

15:00

Okay, thank you.

15:01

Thank you, President.

15:02

Thank you.

15:03

Counselor Williams.

15:04

Thank you.

15:08

Um we will hold 60.

15:10

Uh the remainder are ready.

15:18

We're gonna concern is I agree into the payment 63.

15:23

So we're gonna do it.

15:25

All right, thank you, madam president.

15:27

I'll set all righty, counselor Jones Rowser.

15:32

Thank you, Madam President.

15:34

I have 65 rule 72.

15:38

Um all my items are ready.

15:43

All right, okay.

15:45

All are ready.

15:47

We did receive the Sarah for resolution.

15:54

And with that, I need a motion to adjourn.

15:57

So moving.

15:58

Oh if you recall last week we had asked for a follow-up executive session.

16:02

Oh yeah.

16:04

Oh, so all right, I need a motion to adjourn the executive session.

16:08

So we second.

16:10

All in favor?

16:11

Thank you.

16:14

Oh, okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████62%
Affordable Housing████████████████████27%
Data Protection████████11%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Study Session - September 15, 2025

This meeting of the Syracuse Common Council was a study session to review and schedule agenda items for upcoming public hearings and committee meetings. Key topics included a revocable permission agreement for speed camera equipment at Steam School, a proposed shelter rent agreement for an affordable housing project at 680 South Avenue, and various routine approvals. The council also appointed a new member to the Citizens Review Board.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 10-13, 14-32 (except 14 held for public hearing, 31 withdrawn), 33 (introduced and tabled as a local law), 34, 36-48 (except 38 held for committee meeting), 50-64 (except 52 held for further review, 58 held for committee meeting, 60 held), and 65-72 were reported as ready or processed.
  • Item 9 was withdrawn. Item 31 was withdrawn. Item 35 was held.

Discussion Items

  • Steam School Speed Camera Installation (Item 36): Chief Operating Officer Connor Muldoon explained that the revocable permission for Genoptic to place equipment in the right-of-way addresses insurance and liability for potential damage to city equipment during installation. Underground conduits at Steam School are old, and city staff recommended securing this liability coverage before proceeding. The council agreed to vote on the item that day, with a committee meeting on data privacy and security scheduled for Wednesday.
  • Affordable Housing at 680 South Avenue (Item 52): Commissioner of Assessment Matt reported that Southside Renaissance, the developer, did not file its HCR application for funding, despite previous attempts. The shelter rent agreement would authorize negotiation for when the developer secures financing. Councilor Hogan expressed concern about locking up the property for an entity that has not yet obtained funding, noting this is the third attempt. The standard terms (greater of $525 per unit or 10% of gross revenue, 15-year term) were discussed. The council decided to hold the item for two weeks for further review of language and to assess the developer's progress.
  • Appointment to Citizens Review Board: Councilor Nave appointed Octavia Gernhardt to the Citizens Review Board, noting her presence and requesting support. A letter of recognition was received regarding a prior resignation, making the appointment valid.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 36 (Steam School speed camera revocable permission) was approved to move forward, pending the committee meeting.
  • Item 52 (shelter rent agreement for 680 South Avenue) was held for two weeks to allow further deliberation and review of terms.
  • Octavia Gernhardt was appointed to the Citizens Review Board (presumably approved by voice vote).
  • A motion to adjourn the executive session was passed, followed by adjournment of the study session.

Meeting Transcript

We are getting ready to start our study session. Number five will be a public hearing tonight at 5 30 in the chambers. I have number 9, and that is going to be withdrawn. Councillor Carla. Thank you, Madam President. Yeah. Mike check. You got a mic. I got a mic, mic check. Okay. Lessons all everyone today. I have items nine through no, excuse me, 10 through 13. And we're already, unless they love Bellow Consults have any questions. That's not thanks, Councillor. Thank you, Madam President. Alrighty. Councillor McJock is not here yet. So who's on public safety? Okay. I'll be taking counselor jokes. Thank you, Madam President. Um have items 14 through 32. Um item 14 uh is being held today for a public hearing, and we'll have a committee meeting on that tomorrow as well. Item 31 will be withdrawn. Um pending uh the committee meeting, I believe. No, just withdraw. Okay, withdraw. Um and all other items are ready. Thank you. Councilor Peniago. Good afternoon. Um thank you, Madam President. My I have items 33, uh, and 35. 33 and 34. If there are no further questions, are ready. I will continue to hold 35. Counselor. 33 is a local law, so it's an automatic table. Um there we go. Thank you. And introduced in table, sorry. Okay, introduce the table on 33. 34 is ready. 35 is held. Councillor Gavers. Thank you, Madam President. I have items 36 through 48. Um for item number 36. Uh, could you could could could you come up, please? 36.

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