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Record of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025: Traffic Cameras, Property Appraisals, Land Transfers

Public Meetings — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:00

Transcript — Verbatim
7:35

Thank you.

7:35

Thank you.

7:36

Counselor McJoff.

7:37

Thank you, Madam President.

7:38

I have item twelve to fourteen.

7:41

We will hold still hold item twelve.

7:45

Afternoon, Counselor.

7:46

All right.

7:53

Uh with uh two additional dash cameras.

7:56

Uh all our traffic cars have dash cameras on we got two new traffic vehicles and want to put the dash cameras on on vehicles.

8:04

So Chief, let me ask you a question.

8:07

When the dash cams come on when you make a stop or when you're moved going to stop somebody, does the cam just come on?

8:15

I'm sorry.

8:16

How does the dash cam work?

8:17

Does it work automatically come on when you turn the lights on or something?

8:23

Don't know if I can find out for you.

8:25

Okay.

8:27

Knowing what I know about these products, you could probably set up to do it any different way.

8:31

I'll find out what our policy is and which way we why don't we turn them on.

8:34

Okay.

8:40

That's what I thought when the lights get turned on.

8:43

I think so too, but I don't want to say the wrong thing.

8:45

I'll find out for sure.

8:46

I'll let you know.

8:48

Hey, Chief.

8:49

Um a little bit off the dash cam that I know we're gonna have a meeting later this week, but are you um still getting a lot of um you guys are not reviewing the actual the cameras yet?

9:02

Because they're we're not we're just uh um warning signs.

9:05

You're not reviewing the cameras that are being um sent to people fires them passing speed limit the SP zone.

9:13

You're not reviewing.

9:14

Oh, you're reviewing them now?

9:16

Yes.

9:17

Oh.

9:18

When did that start?

9:20

Uh September.

9:21

Oh, that's for but it's still in the um it's still in the um, oh, which is but you're still reviewing them.

9:30

Yes, we had a we did a press conference on that uh last week that um starting with the school start.

9:35

I think it was September fourth, right around there.

9:37

I've started doing the speed in zone and the some of the red light cameras.

9:42

Um so we are reviewing them, but as counselor said it's just a warning at this time, but we are reviewing them, yes.

9:47

And my last question on this one, was it the police department that is decided where to put some of these um red light cameras?

9:55

No.

9:55

No.

9:56

What department was it?

9:57

Do you know?

9:57

I don't know.

10:00

DPW.

10:02

DPW?

10:03

Interesting.

10:03

Okay.

10:04

Well why um what basis the DPW?

10:08

So did the police department didn't uh have anything to do with where those cameras were put up?

10:14

This is part of the vision zero program, and I I hate to speak for other departments because I wasn't part of that conversation, but I know that we didn't do it.

10:23

I'm Connor, Here you can probably answer it.

10:27

So Connor, what um on what basis did just DPW do without involving the uh they worked with uh the traffic engineers from the uh Fisher engineers who were hired by Genoptic to determine the best locations based on a variety of transportation factors, um proximity to the schools, the right locations, traffic volumes, things of that nature.

10:48

Well, when you avail yourself of the experience.

10:54

I think police were part of sort of the the final approval process, but not I I this would have been probably just before right around the time that I was transitioning into this role to determine when uh you know to to finalize those locations.

11:07

So I believe police was part of the process, but maybe not necessarily on the ground saying should it be here or here.

11:13

Yeah, I'm not to criticize particularly any, but some of the cameras where they are where they're you know where people are going to end up getting tickets are puzzling, like Fowler I get a street, which doesn't have really a back entrance to it.

11:28

Most of the kids enter the school from off of Wilbur.

11:31

And most of the kids come from the near west side crossing Fowler.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety████████████████████████████28%
Property Disposition█████████████████████████25%
Procurement██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Zoning Regulation███████████11%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025

The Syracuse Common Council held a regular meeting on October 8, 2025, addressing multiple agenda items including traffic camera enforcement, property appraisals for potential acquisitions, land transfers for development, and various administrative approvals. Key discussions centered on the implementation of speed and red-light cameras, the timing of fines, and the need for community notification regarding land bank transfers.

Discussion Items

  • Dash Cameras (Item 12-14): Councilor McJoff inquired about the operation of dash cameras for new traffic vehicles. Chief indicated the cameras likely activate with emergency lights, but will confirm policy. Councilor also asked about school zone speed cameras and red-light cameras, noting that warning period began September 4 and fines are set to start November 2. Councilor expressed concerns about camera placement in locations like Calvin Street and Fowler, questioning the rationale behind certain locations. Connor (transportation) explained that locations were chosen by traffic engineers from Fisher based on transportation factors, school proximity, and traffic volumes, and that police were part of final approval. Councilor requested that before fines begin, a comprehensive study be done, and that district councilors be consulted on locations within their districts. Councilor also suggested adding pavement markings (arrows, speed limits) and trimming vegetation obscuring signs and cameras. A committee meeting was scheduled to discuss further.
  • Police/Fire Furniture & Equipment (Item 14Q): Deputy Commissioner Mike Lehman presented authorization to spend bonded funds ($2 million) for furniture, fixtures, and equipment at 1153 West Fayette Street for police and fire. The expenditure follows an RFP process requested by council. Clarification was provided that a second RFP for another vendor will come back for similar authorization.
  • DPW Garage Engine Repairs (Item 17): An ordinance amendment to increase funds from $25,000 to $125,000 for Cummins engine repairs and parts at the DPW garage was presented. No questions were raised.
  • Hold Items (18-24, 25-26, 15-16): Several items were held for committee meetings, including items related to a developmental center (19-24), and items 15-16.
  • Property Appraisals (Items 27-28): Deputy Commissioner Mike Lehman requested authorization to hire an appraiser for 200-232 Park Avenue (school district maintenance facility) to value the property as part of a disposition and redevelopment RFP process. For 636-638 Midland Avenue, the city is interested in acquiring a privately owned parcel to consolidate a block for parks maintenance; an appraisal is needed. Commissioner OJ noted receipt of a letter requesting appraisal of 800-802 Wilbur (former SDC site). Councilor Hogan pressed for an expedited timeline (two weeks) to meet a December closing deadline, and Commissioner OJ agreed to solicit bids rapidly.
  • Stenographer Services (Item 29): Authorization for use of a stenographer/recording service was presented and approved without debate.
  • Local Code Enforcement Law Update (Item 30): Deputy Commissioner Jake Dish introduced a local law amendment to align with New York State's new 2025 uniform code (adopted from 2020). All changes are state-mandated and non-restrictive. Council decided to hold this for a committee meeting.
  • Land Bank Transfers (Items 31-40): MBD representatives Kaylin Hubbard and Camone Jordan presented requests to transfer city-owned lots to the Greater Syracuse Land Bank for site assembly and infill development. Items 38, 39, and 40 were withdrawn for further neighbor coordination. Councilor Jones-Rouser requested a map showing the parcels and development plans, emphasizing the need for community awareness. The department agreed to provide a map.
  • Airport Parking Lot Easement (Items 58-59): City Engineer Mary Robison presented a local law to grant National Grid an easement for an underground power line and transformer for a new parking lot at the airport. The law was placed on desks and is eligible for vote on the next meeting day.

Key Outcomes

  • Direction to Administration: To consult with district councilors on final camera locations before fines begin; to conduct a comprehensive study of side streets; to consider pavement markings and vegetation trimming.
  • Committee Referrals: Items 18-19, 19-24, 25-26, 15-16, and 30 were held for committee meetings.
  • Approvals: Items 14Q, 17, 27, 28, 29, and 58-59 were moved forward for potential vote or further action.
  • Land Bank Transfers: Items 31-37 to proceed; 38, 39, 40 withdrawn; department to provide maps and development plans.
  • Expedited Appraisal: Commissioner OJ committed to soliciting bids for the Wilbur Avenue appraisal with a 48-hour turnaround to meet deadlines.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Thank you. Counselor McJoff. Thank you, Madam President. I have item twelve to fourteen. We will hold still hold item twelve. Afternoon, Counselor. All right. Uh with uh two additional dash cameras. Uh all our traffic cars have dash cameras on we got two new traffic vehicles and want to put the dash cameras on on vehicles. So Chief, let me ask you a question. When the dash cams come on when you make a stop or when you're moved going to stop somebody, does the cam just come on? I'm sorry. How does the dash cam work? Does it work automatically come on when you turn the lights on or something? Don't know if I can find out for you. Okay. Knowing what I know about these products, you could probably set up to do it any different way. I'll find out what our policy is and which way we why don't we turn them on. Okay. That's what I thought when the lights get turned on. I think so too, but I don't want to say the wrong thing. I'll find out for sure. I'll let you know. Hey, Chief. Um a little bit off the dash cam that I know we're gonna have a meeting later this week, but are you um still getting a lot of um you guys are not reviewing the actual the cameras yet? Because they're we're not we're just uh um warning signs. You're not reviewing the cameras that are being um sent to people fires them passing speed limit the SP zone. You're not reviewing. Oh, you're reviewing them now? Yes. Oh. When did that start? Uh September. Oh, that's for but it's still in the um it's still in the um, oh, which is but you're still reviewing them. Yes, we had a we did a press conference on that uh last week that um starting with the school start. I think it was September fourth, right around there. I've started doing the speed in zone and the some of the red light cameras. Um so we are reviewing them, but as counselor said it's just a warning at this time, but we are reviewing them, yes. And my last question on this one, was it the police department that is decided where to put some of these um red light cameras? No. No. What department was it? Do you know? I don't know. DPW. DPW? Interesting. Okay. Well why um what basis the DPW?

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