I wanted to take an opportunity to just brief everyone on the current response to the significant winter storm that we've been experiencing over the past 12 hours or so.

Snow started last night, came on heavy DPW is out there immediately clearing the streets.

Of course, that went through the night into this morning.

DPW is doing a great job.

I want to I want to emphasize that the drivers that we have out there are facing extreme conditions and they're doing uh a very good job.

We have we have all available vehicles out on the street right now.

I think it's important to note while a lot has been made about the number of big plows that we have on the on the road.

We have a number of different pieces of equipment.

We have over 30 pieces of equipment between the big plows, the pickups with uh with plows on them.

Um we have a payloader that has a plow on it.

So we have well over 30 pieces of equipment out on the road right now.

Um something that's important to note for folks that are uh following our our snowplow map.

Uh it is important to note that while all of the DP, the large DPW vehicles have the GTS units on them.

Some of the pickup trucks do not uh have the GPS units, so your street may have been plowed by one of those smaller vehicles and it might not be showing up on the map.

Again, the map is meant to help give a better sense of uh what's happening out there, but it's not uh 100%.

We also have a third party contractor that we've been contracting with for the past few years for larger storms who's out there, they cover much of the south side into the valley.

Um so between our our big plows, uh our smaller rigs, our contractor, uh we are uh we are fighting the good fight, and I feel good uh about where we're at right now.

Uh we had a little bit of a break, so obviously when the snow's coming down hard and fast, uh we are spending most of our time on the hills and on the main um primary routes.

Uh, when the snow led up, we were able to break out into the neighborhoods.

We understand that you know people need to be able to get from their house to the main roads that are clear, and so we are clearing neighborhoods now as well.

And as the snow is picked up, we're gonna try to continue to keep that balance so we can continue to clear the roads and haven't been cleared.

Um, but again, this is the largest storm we've seen in many years.

DPW has never been better prepared uh for it, certainly not uh over the eight years that I've been mayor.

Uh we have a restored fleet that will be out.

We can always use more drivers, and you'll hear more about that, I'm sure, from the commissioner, probably mayor elect.

Um, but we are uh we're putting up a good fight.

I'm proud of uh the work of the DPW workers.

Um, probably meet DOD move.

Uh also wanted to mention uh, in addition to our third party contractor, I want to thank the New York State DOT who reached out.

The regional director Betsy Parmley reached out first thing this morning, asked if they could be of assistance.

Uh, we're currently working with them to get them out on some of our major arterials to help as well.

So it's uh as always, it's a team effort.

We know neighbors are out there snowblowing for each other.

Uh private plow contractors, uh, it's uh it takes the entire community, but I think we are collectively rising to the challenge.

Uh, again, I feel really good about it, and I'd like you to hear from some of our colleagues just for things uh for some additional context about our response as well as things for people to be aware of.

So, first I'm gonna invite our DPW commissioner Jeremy Jeremy Radically to say a few words.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh just like to say the storm came in overnight uh really fast in a hurry.

Uh we were responsive right away.

Uh this is this was a storm that we had to get on it right away.

So uh I'm proud of our team.

Um, how we handled it in the beginning uh was was like no other.

So I'm very proud of our our team jumping on it right away.

Um's been said of our fleet, but like the mayor said, we got about 30 pieces of equipment out there trying to handle uh what we what we call a major, major storm.

Um and I commend all the uh efforts that uh other departments have been helping parks, water, New York State DOT.

I mean, it's a family.

I mean, we we're trying to uh do the same thing is clear the roads as fast as we can.

Um I very and I appreciate that very much.

Thank you.

Thanks, Commissioner.

We're gonna bring up Chief Bonds from the fire department.

Hello, everybody.

Um Mike Mons from the fire department.

Um there's a few things I want to go over.

Number one, um, there are 55 hydrants in the city of Syracuse.

Uh right now, our firefighters are up clearing hydrants.

Um, but I will ask if you are physically able uh to assist our firefighters.

Uh we're asking um that you clear a path from the street to the hydrant and then a three to five foot path around the hydrant.

Uh you'll never know when a fire hydrant in the city um in your neighborhood will need to use to help save somebody's property to save somebody's life.

Uh, number two, I wanted to also say a while.

You're out shoveling the hydrants um helping us out.

Can you please clear a path on your sidewalks to your front door to your back door to all your exits to make sure that if there is an emergency at your house, um it will help us more efficiently uh remedy the situation that we're called to.

So if you could do that for us, that would also be great.

Number three, and I know Chief Russin from the police department's gonna speak on this.

When you see our apparatus uh in emergency mode going down the street, please pull over to the right side to let our fire apparatus um pass on the left side if you have to be out and about.

Um the fourth thing I will say um a lot of homes right now are using uh their uh appliances that are fuel burning appliances.

Um oftentimes, all the time these uh appliances do have discharge pipes that come out sometimes on the driveway and other sides of the house.

So as you're shoveling your sidewalks and your driveways, please make sure these discharge uh pipes are clear so um toxic fumes that are coming from these um place uh things like furnaces and um hot water tanks aren't uh being blocked and back uh loading back into your homes.

And this um last thing I'll say that I'll say every time is make sure you have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home because it will save your life when you're sleeping and you're not paying attention.

Thank you.

Thanks, Chief.

I bring up Deputy Chief Mark Russ and uh incoming chief.

Thanks.

Yeah, just a few things that to uh to talk about.

But parking is a major issue when we have these big snowstorms.

Please make sure you're you're paying attention to your cars in timely fashion.

We have an extra uh detail out there that is going around when we get complaints working in collaboration with the fire department and DPW.

When we get complaints about uh streets that are blocked, we have to come out there and we'll do a ticket.

We try to make the uh the registered owners notified of that, but ultimately we have to tow those vehicles out of there to make sure that SFD and DPW can get their get their apparatuses up and down the street.

You know, one thing that that you see a lot is people will clear off their windshields.

You have to make sure you clear off the top of your cars.

You come to an abrupt stop, and all of a sudden that snow covers the top of your car, your windshield wipers aren't able to take uh take control, and then you're gonna you're not have zero visibility.

So please make sure you take extra time getting to where you need to go and really make a decision as to whether or not you need to be on the road.

Um, you know, your errands and day-to-day things should be put on the shelf for for today and allow the the DPW to be doing an outstanding job, clear the streets, allow SFD if you do see an emergency vehicle for AMR for an ambulance or SFD.

Make sure you're giving them a lot of space to uh to navigate.

It's it's tricky out there for for those folks, so please give them a lot of extra space.

Thank you.

Mayor Lighthouse.

Thank you.

Just reiterating just thank you to our crew for being out there all night long, all day long, probably into tonight.

Um, just want to emphasize something that Chief Mond said.

Um, on my way here, I saw a lot of people shoveling.

Be conscious of your own health.

Um, listen to your body while you're shoveling.

This snow is coming hard and heavy, and it is heavy.

And so please be conscious of that.

Also, everyone can't shovel their own sidewalk or or or pave uh get their door open.

So this is a time that neighbors help neighbors.

So if you're out shoveling, um uh you have a snow blow uh uh snowblower, go down your neighbor's sidewalk so we can help each other during this time.

Again, also remember that everyone, you all are here.

Everyone can stay home today.

I went by the grocery store just on my way here to get some stuff for our team just so they can have a snack or something to take back into the truck.

It's gonna be a long day for them, long night for them.

The grocery store folks, they're in the grocery store, so we can get there.

So when you're in this grocery store, say thank you to them for showing up in a blizzard.

And so I just want to um ask everyone in Syracuse for your patience.

We're gonna continue to uh learn every single snow.

Our commissioner, our our fire department, our DPW, parks people, everyone who's who's chipping in.

DOT and every snowstorm, we're gonna learn a little bit more to do a little bit better.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mary.

Let go and just said a couple of closing thoughts and then happy to answer questions.

Um clearing sidewalks.

I I am pleased to report that our sidewalk uh snow clearing contractor is also out right now clearing those routes, so that's certainly helpful uh for the many people that uh that walk throughout the city.

I also wanted to note that the wind factor, I think that's what uh makes the response that much more challenging.

I was driving through Franklin Square this morning and it was a complete whiteout.

And you can have a plow go down and with one gust of wind and a snow drift, uh, you can't even tell that it's happened.

So it's really the combination of the the amount of snow and the wind that has made this uh particularly challenging.

But again, uh I think DPW is doing a great job.

I think sometimes we take for granted what we have in terms of a snow response here.

What we what we're seeing out here right now uh would would bring most cities to its knees.

Uh, we're still out there operating.

Certainly, we want people to stay home if they can, but as the mayor left sat a lot, uh can't, and we're certainly grateful for all of those essential workers that are out there doing their jobs today so we can all stay safe and warm.

With that, happy to answer questions.

I think that there's a lot of experience with our riders.

How has that impacted so far?

Yeah, so uh commissioner is welcome to respond.

I would just say, you know, uh, number one, um, there there's uh there's no lesson than like what they're getting today, and uh and that's how you get better is with experience.

And so um certainly there are growing pains, and you know, we've had some uh uh some issues here and there, but again, I think um by and large, uh everybody out there are new plow drivers and our veteran plow drivers are doing a great job for us right now.

Fantastic.

Have you talked about lessons learned every storm?

You know, this past weekend there were some challenges with the fleet.

Can we talk about the difference between that response and the response here today?

Yeah, you know, I said to the commissioner earlier, he he took one for the team and he owned that our response was not up to our own standards the last time around.

Uh it and uh and while we acknowledge that, uh I also told him that I'm proud of his response and his team's response today.

I think they've gone above and beyond.

So you do learn.

The challenge in the one of the challenges in the last storm was that they uh that it was over the weekend um and that uh it it more came than what was forecasted.

Uh but uh again we were we were ready for this one, and I think it shows out there again.

It doesn't mean that everyone's streets are gonna be cleared immediately.

People need to be patient, um, but but they're doing a great job.

And uh yeah, we learn every time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I would uh on my way in this morning, uh I I saw the uh central bus uh buses out.

Um so they are all out and operating.

Um ultimately clearing uh clearing the stops.

Uh I think Central gets to it when they can, uh but their primary responsibility is obviously uh getting people around in the buses.

But um as far as we can tell that they're operating um well today, and that's certainly helpful for the many people that aren't drive.

Fantastic.

And some long hours tonight you said um what does a typical shift look like on a course storm like this?

Yeah, I think uh commission 12 hour shifts at this point, so 12 hour shifts, it's it's around the clock.

Um so you know, people are are gonna be a little short on sleep, but again, this is not their first rodeo.

Uh they know what they're doing, they're professionals and uh they're doing it really well.

Any routes that are not plowable that's probably that are proving to be whole challenge.

I don't think we've received any reports of uh unplowable areas, it's just a matter of getting to them and we are uh you mention uh you mentioned earlier that the uh map isn't necessarily uh the plow map doesn't necessarily reflect which streets have been cloud because of those uh smaller clouds.

Does it eventually reflect what those clouds have done, or it's never going to reflect all the streets that have been for the vehicles that do not have GPS units, you're not gonna see that reflected on the map.

Okay, so you know, there the the map didn't exist a number of years ago.

We wanted to give more transparency to our operations, but uh and it's certainly uh an approvement, but it's not perfect.

So again, we encourage people to use it as a guide, uh, but it's it's not going to be 100% accurate.

The good news is um that uh if we're gonna be wrong, it it's better to be wrong in the way that streets that don't look like they've been plowed have actually been plowed if that is the case.

Certainly.

And one thing that's been on my mind all day is how resilient here is.

I mean, people are still going, people are still going to work.

Is there any message of that sense that you'd like to send?

I'm I'm proud of our crews here at DPW, I'm proud of our community.

People are out there shoving, shoveling each other's driveways, snow blowing.

Um there are a few things that bring our community together, like a good old-fashioned snowstorm is well.

You know, we take seriously the impacts of it, and it can be very dangerous.

Uh, there is some good that comes with it too.

And uh again, I think that when you uh stack us up to other communities where we are quite literally the snowiest city in the country.

I think we do a really good job.

And when I say we, not just the city, the entire community.

Okay, thanks everybody.

Stay warm, drive safe.

I have one or two other questions to follow up.