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Record of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Study Session - December 22, 2025

Public Meetings — Monday, December 22, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, December 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 13:22

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
5:20

We are getting ready to start our study session.

5:23

I have item number eight.

5:25

And I'm going to withdraw that.

5:28

Councillor Pania.

5:30

I have item nine.

5:32

And if there are no further questions after our committee meeting, um, it should be ready.

5:36

Thank you.

5:37

Councillor Cogwell.

5:39

Thank you, Madam President.

5:40

Blessings to all on this wonderful, beautiful day.

5:42

I have item number 10 and it's all ready.

5:44

Thank you.

5:45

Thank you.

5:46

Councillor Middle.

5:48

Thank you, Madam President.

5:49

I have item 11 and 12.

5:51

Uh the council had a committee, a committee meeting uh last Friday to talk about item 11.

5:58

That should be ready.

5:59

Unless if anyone has question, uh item 12 as well should be ready.

6:04

Thank you, Madam.

6:06

Thank you.

6:06

Councilor Gavin.

6:08

Thank you, Madam President, for the last time.

6:09

I have items 13 through 29.

6:12

Not any more uh there's not any more questions or anything like that.

6:16

I think they're already ready to go.

6:21

Thank you.

6:23

Council.

6:27

Which one?

6:28

17 17.

6:31

Let's check.

6:36

Well, I do believe that uh Councillor Williams, if I'm not mistaken, did you have a uh statement about the plan and everything?

6:42

I think that there was something that was said last week in regards to the garages.

6:46

Parking garages member.

6:48

Um we'll talk about that between now and one o'clock.

6:51

Okay.

6:53

Um TBD.

6:54

And the other well, now that we're back on that.

6:56

I'm sorry about that, Madam President.

6:58

The other thing is uh everybody okay with the item number 28 as far as with the water led testing um thing.

7:07

Well if we'll go with that.

7:09

Okay, all right.

7:09

Yep, hearing none is almost set.

7:11

Thank you.

7:12

Thank you.

7:13

Councilor Nave.

7:14

Thank you, Madam President.

7:16

I have items 30 and 31, and they are ready to go.

7:20

Thank you.

7:21

Councilor Hope.

7:23

Uh thank you, President Hutchin.

7:24

And uh since I've said the last time once before, I won't say a last time this time.

7:29

Um items 32, I 32 I will hold 33 and 34 already.

7:36

I thought you was gonna hold 34.

7:38

I thought 34 was a hell too.

7:40

Is it uh could somebody from okay?

7:43

We're gonna hold 34 correct.

7:47

Hold four hand up for committee leave.

7:49

Yeah, yeah.

7:50

Yeah, yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████████████████38%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Parking Management███████████████████████23%
Health Awareness████████████████16%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Study Session - December 22, 2025

The Common Council held a study session on December 22, 2025, to review and finalize items for an upcoming legislative session. Council members reported on the status of agenda items 8 through 66, indicating which were ready, held, or withdrawn. A discussion on budget transfers and health insurance projections also took place. No public comments were heard. The meeting adjourned after the item review.

Discussion Items

  • Item Status Updates: Council members reviewed a series of agenda items (8–66). Notable actions included:
    • Councillor Pania withdrew item 8.
    • Items 9–29 were reported as ready, with Councillor Gavin noting they were "ready to go."
    • Councillor Hope held items 32 and 34. First Assistant Corporation Counsel Joe Barry recommended holding item 32 for further legal research on options available to the council and planning commission, with results expected in early 2026.
    • Councillor Williams held item 35 and thanked Bill Appellito for attending regarding his appointment to the Board of Assessment Review (item 38).
    • Councillor Jones Rouser listed items 42 (held), 44 (held), 45 (withdrawn), 46 (withdrawn), 47 (held), 49 (withdrawn). Item 55 was initially listed as held but was later moved forward after a conversation; Kayla Hubbard, neighborhood planner, explained the property has heavy fire damage and the goal is to get it through the demolition pipeline to the land bank.
    • Councillor Martel held item 65; Councillor McJoff reported item 66 as ready.
  • Budget Transfer and Health Insurance Discussion: Councillor Williams asked Commissioner of Finance (Mike Azera) about budget lines funding certain expenditures. The commissioner noted that approximately $200,000 is being transferred from health insurance to fund other items, requiring possible backfilling later in the fiscal year. The transfer from retirement and traffic camera fees are considered real savings, but health insurance depends on claims and may need a supplemental appropriation around March or April of fiscal year 2026. Councillor Williams requested a comparison of health insurance claims through November of fiscal year 2025 versus fiscal year 2026. The commissioner agreed to provide the data.

Key Outcomes

  • Items Held or Withdrawn: Multiple items (32, 34, 35, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 65) were held or withdrawn for further review or legal research.
  • Item 55 Moved Forward: After discussion, item 55 was advanced to facilitate demolition of a fire-damaged property.
  • Budget Oversight: The council is monitoring health insurance costs and will receive updated projections early in 2026.
  • Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and carried.

Meeting Transcript

We are getting ready to start our study session. I have item number eight. And I'm going to withdraw that. Councillor Pania. I have item nine. And if there are no further questions after our committee meeting, um, it should be ready. Thank you. Councillor Cogwell. Thank you, Madam President. Blessings to all on this wonderful, beautiful day. I have item number 10 and it's all ready. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Middle. Thank you, Madam President. I have item 11 and 12. Uh the council had a committee, a committee meeting uh last Friday to talk about item 11. That should be ready. Unless if anyone has question, uh item 12 as well should be ready. Thank you, Madam. Thank you. Councilor Gavin. Thank you, Madam President, for the last time. I have items 13 through 29. Not any more uh there's not any more questions or anything like that. I think they're already ready to go. Thank you. Council. Which one? 17 17. Let's check. Well, I do believe that uh Councillor Williams, if I'm not mistaken, did you have a uh statement about the plan and everything? I think that there was something that was said last week in regards to the garages. Parking garages member. Um we'll talk about that between now and one o'clock. Okay. Um TBD. And the other well, now that we're back on that. I'm sorry about that, Madam President. The other thing is uh everybody okay with the item number 28 as far as with the water led testing um thing. Well if we'll go with that. Okay, all right. Yep, hearing none is almost set. Thank you. Thank you. Councilor Nave. Thank you, Madam President. I have items 30 and 31, and they are ready to go. Thank you. Councilor Hope.

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