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Record of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Final Meeting of 2025 - December 22, 2025

Public Meetings — Monday, December 22, 2025
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, December 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 45:26

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
5:41

And please remain standing for the invitation to be delivered by Pastor Haj Davis from Bethany Baptist Church.

5:51

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic.

6:04

Let us pray to the true and all-wise creator.

6:08

We invite you into this space this afternoon.

6:11

You who are wise, we seek your guidance and your strength and your wisdom in all matters.

6:16

As we reflect on the work that we have done individually and collectively, for this, we give thanks.

6:22

Help us to continue to be helpers one to another as we share ideas and strategies to draw persons and people to our community to care for those who are already residents here.

6:34

We ask for your continued guidance.

6:41

We humbly ask that you would continue to grant us grace as we walk through this life and to keep us united on one front.

6:49

We give thanks for each person for those who are working alongside our counselors.

6:54

As we stand here this afternoon, we invite the spirit of charity, kindness, generosity, and patience to rest upon us.

7:02

We give thanks for the service of each one of these counselors and for all the work that they have done.

7:07

For this, we give thanks and we ask it all in your name.

7:10

Amen.

7:20

Yes, Madam President.

7:22

Councillor Cog.

7:23

Well, present, Councilor Machoke.

7:26

Here.

7:26

Councilor Paniagua.

7:28

Here.

7:28

Councillor Gathers.

7:29

Present.

7:30

Councilor Nave.

7:31

Counselor Hogan.

7:32

Here.

7:32

Councillor Williams.

7:33

Councillor Jones Browser.

7:35

Present.

7:35

Councilor Mato.

7:36

Here.

7:37

Uh present.

7:38

May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the December 22nd meeting?

7:42

So move.

7:42

May I have a second?

7:44

Second.

7:44

All in favor?

7:45

Aye.

7:45

Opposed?

7:46

Unanimous.

7:47

Are there any petitions?

7:52

Oh no, Madam President.

7:54

Are there any committee reports?

7:57

Yes, Madam President.

7:59

Um public safety uh public safety committee had a two meetings Friday.

8:08

Uh the first meeting was around uh PAL and the youth detention policy.

8:14

The second uh meeting was uh on license license fees and event um from uh the fire department.

8:24

So that's it.

8:26

Thank you.

8:27

Thank you.

8:27

Any committee reports?

8:29

Uh I yes.

8:30

Uh on December 17th, we had a charter rules procedures and RFP committee meeting with the purpose of this meeting was to discuss adopting changes of the Syracuse Common Council rules and procedures as it relates to the ten standing committees.

8:48

Any more committee reports.

8:52

Yes, madam president.

8:53

I have one from the Honorable Alex Marion, City Auditor and Auditor of the Claims Processing from Anadon County Board of Election, uh the statement of cleaners for the November 2nd general election from Empire State Development, the general project plan for expanding high speed internet affordable housing regarding the greater Syracuse Capital Project in Onadoga County, another one from the Empire State Development regarding the Syracuse Habit Habitat for Humanity Capitol Project and Underaga County from Red House Ours, a letter acknowledging the terms and conditions of ordinance number 370, 2025.

9:31

Also from the a letter from the rescue mission acknowledging the terms and conditions from ordinance number 933, 2025.

9:39

Thank you.

9:44

I am withdrawing that one.

9:49

Yes, thank you.

9:50

I'm President Hudson.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████75%
Community Engagement█████8%
Historic Preservation████7%
Parking Management████6%
Religious Organizations██4%
Summary of Proceedings

Syracuse Common Council Meeting - December 22, 2025

The Syracuse Common Council held its final meeting of 2025 on December 22, 2025, at 5:54 PM. The session included committee reports, votes on numerous ordinances and resolutions, and farewell remarks for three departing council members: President Hudson, Councillor Gathers, and Councillor Hogan. The meeting was marked by unanimous approvals on most items, with a few roll-call votes and significant discussion on fee policies and parking infrastructure.

Committee Reports

  • Public Safety Committee met twice on Friday: the first meeting addressed PAL and youth detention policy; the second covered license fees and an event from the fire department.
  • Charter, Rules, Procedures and RFP Committee met on December 17 to discuss adopting changes to the Syracuse Common Council rules as they relate to the ten standing committees.

Discussion and Voting on Legislation

  • Item 9: Passed with a 6-3 vote. Councillors Cardwell, Gathers, and Hogan voted no; Councillors Machoke, Paniagua, Nave, Williams, Jones Browser, and Mato voted yes.
  • Item 10: Adopted unanimously.
  • Item 11: Councillor Nave argued for a thorough citywide review of all fees rather than targeting Syracuse Match, while Councillor Williams supported the measure as a first step toward a broader review. Roll call: Cardwell (yes), Machoke (yes), Paniagua (yes), Gathers (yes), Nave (abstain), Hogan (no), Williams (yes), Jones Browser (yes), Mato (yes). Passed 7-1 with one abstention.
  • Item 12: Adopted unanimously.
  • Items 13-16: Each adopted unanimously.
  • Item 17: A councillor reminded colleagues of the larger parking issue, noting that $1 million is needed for garage safety and structural integrity, and that one garage is already condemned and will cost a couple million dollars to demolish. Passed unanimously.
  • Items 18-29: Adopted unanimously, with minor discussion on item 17 only.
  • Item 30: Resolution to install an honorary sign at Pearl Street and East Belden Avenue designated as “Columbus Bakery Way” in honor of Columbus Bakery (founded 1895). Adopted unanimously.
  • Item 31: Resolution to recognize Columbus Bakery, read by Councillor Nave, highlighting its 125+ years of operation and induction into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry in 2022. Adopted unanimously.
  • Items 32-34: Item 32 held, item 33 unanimous, item 34 held.
  • Items 35-38: Item 35 held, items 36–38 unanimous.
  • Items 39-41: Emergency adoption, all unanimous.
  • Items 42-64: Several items held or withdrawn; all voted items passed unanimously.
  • Item 65: Held.
  • Item 66: Rules waived, introduced and adopted unanimously.

Farewell Remarks

  • Council members delivered heartfelt tributes to departing President Hudson, Councillor Gathers, and Councillor Hogan. Many speakers acknowledged their leadership, mentorship, and dedication.
  • President Hudson thanked residents, staff (especially Carmelita, Nader, Joe Barry, Janet Burke), district and at-large councillors, and the administration. She emphasized service to the people of Syracuse and encouraged continued advocacy.
  • Councillor Gathers expressed gratitude for the council’s diversity and collaboration through challenges like COVID, and called Syracuse a “comeback city.”
  • Councillor Hogan thanked colleagues and noted the importance of working together with the new administration.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 9 passed with a 6-3 vote.
  • Item 11 passed 7-1 with one abstention (Councillor Nave).
  • All other voted items were adopted unanimously, except those held or withdrawn.
  • The meeting adjourned after closing remarks.

Meeting Transcript

And please remain standing for the invitation to be delivered by Pastor Haj Davis from Bethany Baptist Church. To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic. Let us pray to the true and all-wise creator. We invite you into this space this afternoon. You who are wise, we seek your guidance and your strength and your wisdom in all matters. As we reflect on the work that we have done individually and collectively, for this, we give thanks. Help us to continue to be helpers one to another as we share ideas and strategies to draw persons and people to our community to care for those who are already residents here. We ask for your continued guidance. We humbly ask that you would continue to grant us grace as we walk through this life and to keep us united on one front. We give thanks for each person for those who are working alongside our counselors. As we stand here this afternoon, we invite the spirit of charity, kindness, generosity, and patience to rest upon us. We give thanks for the service of each one of these counselors and for all the work that they have done. For this, we give thanks and we ask it all in your name. Amen. Yes, Madam President. Councillor Cog. Well, present, Councilor Machoke. Here. Councilor Paniagua. Here. Councillor Gathers. Present. Councilor Nave. Counselor Hogan. Here. Councillor Williams. Councillor Jones Browser. Present. Councilor Mato. Here. Uh present. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the December 22nd meeting? So move. May I have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous. Are there any petitions? Oh no, Madam President. Are there any committee reports? Yes, Madam President. Um public safety uh public safety committee had a two meetings Friday. Uh the first meeting was around uh PAL and the youth detention policy. The second uh meeting was uh on license license fees and event um from uh the fire department. So that's it. Thank you. Thank you. Any committee reports?

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