Syracuse City Council Meeting - January 21, 2026

The Syracuse City Council met on January 21, 2026 at 4:55 PM to discuss and act on a wide range of resolutions, contracts, donations, and administrative items. Key topics included a contract extension for drug testing, a battery recycling program, donations for park benches, a new aerial ladder truck for the fire department, ambulance billing contracts, and several property and appraisal matters. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session to discuss legal aspects of an axon contract.

Consent Calendar

• Item 10: Unanimous approval to extend the contract with DSI for one more year for random drug testing and CDL compliance. Director of Human Resources Rick Alseiver confirmed satisfaction with service.
• Items 12–16: Approved unanimously:
  • Agreement with OCRRA (Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency) for battery recycling at additional sites (Southwest, Northeast, CIS, and Magnarelli community centers).
  • Acceptance of $2,000 donation from Eastwood Neighborhood Association for a new bench at Cummings Field.
  • Acceptance of $1,054 donation from Syracuse Rotary Club for a bench and memorial plaque at Kirk Park honoring Al Turner.
  • Acceptance of $100 donation from TNT for a plaque for a bench at Franklin Square honoring Ben Wash.
  • Acceptance of donation from Tomorrow's Neighborhood Today (amount not specified).
• Items 35–42: Approved transfers of properties to the Greater Syracuse Land Bank (no further discussion).
• Item 48: Approved reappointment to the CRB (one appointment still open).

Discussion Items

• Item 11 (Councillor Micah): Introduced a resolution urging the New York State Assembly, Senate, and Governor to support the New York for All Act. No other council member signed on; the item was effectively withdrawn.
• Items 17, 18, 43, 45, 46: Held for future committee meetings (February 4 for Item 17; Item 18 and 43 scheduled for committee; Items 45 and 46 continued).
• Items 19–23 (Police and Fire):
  • Item 19: Approved agreement with CBH Group to host Travis House, a speaker on first responder resiliency, in conjunction with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, open to all first responders.
  • Items 20–21: Approved purchase of a new aerial ladder truck for the fire department. Chief Mike Mons explained the apparatus replacement program: new trucks serve 10 years on front-line, then 5 years as spares, then retired. The new truck will go to the busiest station based on miles and usage. Councillor requested data on previous replacements.
  • Item 22: Approved extension of third-party billing contract with Multi-Med for the fire department's ambulance service. Fire chief revealed the city operates two ambulances (one front-line, one spare) primarily used for mass casualty incidents and to train paramedics. Discussion included billing rates (9% of private insurance recouped, $19.60 per Medicare/Medicaid transport, $6.50 for secondary). No third-party collections due to low volume.
  • Item 23: Approved agreement for the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs to use the city’s training facility for a three-day conference, paying $85,500. Liability insurance limit of $1 million was deemed acceptable after corporation counsel review. Councillor inquired about revenue from facility rentals; chief noted minimal outside use so far but will provide data.
• Items 25–28 (Assessment):
  • Item 25: Approved amendment of lease with railroads to include the bridge connecting 115 and 116-18 South Geddes Street (pedestrian and vehicle access).
  • Item 26: Held for committee meeting on Parkside Commons (Item 43).
  • Item 27: Authorized hiring an appraiser for 725 Harrison Street (Syracuse City School District office building). Last appraisal was in 2000. Discussions noted historic significance and earlier RFP for redevelopment.
  • Item 28: Authorized appraisal for “Grape Alley” right-of-way (off Townsend, south of Erie Boulevard).
• Items 29–30 (IT):
  • Item 29: Approved extension of fiber agreement with Northland for connection between city and WCNY for recording meetings. Does not include Pulse production costs.
  • Item 30: Approved agreement with Spectrum to upgrade fiber connection at Southwest Community Center to support e-gaming activities.
• Items 31–32 (Settlement): Discussion on amending an ordinance to authorize a refund of $1,523.89 (to be clarified as refund or credit). Corporation counsel to provide updated letter.
• Item 33 (Code Enforcement): Held pending coordination with NYS Department of State.
• Item 34: Introduced resolution to install honorary sign for Donna Reese. Councillor will provide more history next week.
• Item 47: Approved lot line adjustment for property owned by the Land Bank (159-161 and 153-155) to straighten boundaries, creating two equal parcels and improving compliance with R3 zone.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items (10, 12–16, 35–42, 48) were approved unanimously without dissent.
• Items 11, 17, 18, 26, 33, 43, 45, 46 were held for further committee or executive session.
• Items 19 (speaker agreement), 20–21 (ladder truck purchase), 22 (Multi-Med contract extension), 23 (fire chiefs conference), 25 (bridge lease amendment), 27 (appraisal for Harrison St.), 28 (appraisal for Grape Alley), 29 (Northland fiber extension), 30 (Spectrum upgrade), 31–32 (settlement amendment), and 47 (lot alteration) were all approved after discussion.
• Item 34 (Donna Reese sign) was introduced and will be voted on next week.
• The council voted to move into executive session to discuss legal aspects of the axon contract (motion accepted).