Everybody in their seats.

Okay.

So good morning, everybody.

Thank you for joining us.

Oh, this is ours.

That's kind of a thing.

Okay.

Who has counsel code?

I have it.

I have it.

You have them?

Yeah.

Counselor.

Go ahead.

You have the closure.

There's nothing on top.

Oh, the T.

Bobby King reader.

No, no, there's nothing there.

Nothing there.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

So for counselor Codwell, I have item number 10.

Okay.

Hi.

Hi.

Mike Messersmith, Human Resources.

Uh so item 10 is a continuance of our safety program.

Uh this is the slip trip fall simulator that we uh contracted earlier in the year.

Uh we just want to expand it to double the employees to keep working on our reduction of um work-related injuries.

Any questions?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Jones Rouse, sir.

And Councillor Monto for Councillor McGow.

Thank you, President Penny Agua.

Counselor Majok has 11 through 26.

Who has 11?

Hi Ann.

Hi, good afternoon.

Ann Portock, first deputy commissioner of the DPW.

So 11 and 12.

It's the authorizing of the sale of bonds for the Capital Improvement Project for Dig One Street Streetscape Repair Capital Improvement Project.

It's it's a lot there.

And so we have to ask for that money.

Okay, go ahead, yeah.

Okay.

13 and 14.

And this is uh issuance sell bonds for fiber optic trunk replacement.

So there's always fiber optic repairs that are constantly needed throughout the city.

Could be age, could be infrastructure, could be a car hitting something, and this is the money that we need for that.

Okay, 15 and 16.

Um so this is uh sale ins uh sale of bonds and that is for city-owned building improvements and reconstruction.

So that's eight hundred thousand dollars, and that is all the city-owned buildings in the entire city, hundreds of them.

And this is our staff that constantly does repairs and remodeling on those buildings.

Okay.

So this is sanitor sanitary and storm sewer reconstruction capital improvement project.

And so this is a lot of money, but it's wear and tear, but it's also projects.

So we have normal sewer repairs that happen, you know, every day in the city.

Uh, but this is also for sewer projects.

Okay.

All right, 19 and 20.

So DPW road reconstruction program.

So that's the big one.

Um you all got the list that went in there.

Um do you have any questions about roads?

Do those get prioritized in the next year?

Do they kind of list included on the list?

Let's see if they would be priority, but they're on.

I did double check the list, and they are included and meshed in that list, but they do get priority in the 2026 year.

If that makes sense.

Yes.

Questions?

Anybody on 19 and 20?

Um 1516.

That's kind of different.

Normally there is a request of what that mom money's gonna be used for.

But is this like I know it's various buildings?

So let's go back to 15 and 16 and 15 and 16 city owned buildings.

Yeah.

16.

Yeah, uh Councilman Chilk was uh called me about that.

He um he thought that it was unusual that that type of um is this the one uh the type of uh improvements wasn't listed for the buildings.

Kevin, it's city-owned buildings.

Uh councilor Madjok was wondering what types of improvements for the 800,000.

Is that accurate?

Uh that counselor Majok was wondering what types of improvements for the 800,000.

Yep, he had caught and asked about um the type of approvements.

Um is there because it weren't listed.

Yeah, there's something specific.

Because it's really not necessary improvements.

I mean, in the event that the new administration wants to do a build out, those funds are there.

That's primarily for um the HVAC system.

Any unforeseen damage or water break in a building or whatever, like this is more for the overall maintenance of the facilities, replacing carpets, windows.

If we find a roof leak, those are all the things we worry about when it comes to those funding, including the maintenance that we're gonna have to do on a new building that we're gonna inherit over at 1154 FA.

We might want to get in touch with him and but I will thought so I just wanted to.

Joe Barry, first assistant corporation counsel.

I believe in past years we've had an exhibit listing out the improvements.

And the re reason why is um bond council needs to know what the useful life of the physical work is for the uh bond uh bonding process.

Kevin did mention 1153.

There is a bond on there for 1153 already.

So um could the clerk speak into the mic?

Uh oh, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

So I'm just saying, so you guys gonna provide a uh schedule exhibit B or Zibit A, excuse me.

Something that breaks down the prices we can certainly.

Yeah, that's what he wanted.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, and where were we?

21.

Yes, I think you're right.

Okay, 2122.

So this is the chips reimbursable sidewalk project.

So this is sidewalks that will be done at the same time and coincide with the street.

So when you're tearing up the street, you're gonna redo the curves and the sidewalks at the same time, and that money is chips reimbursable, and there was a list of that in this uh packet.

So this l this is outside of our regular list of sidewalks.

Okay.

So these are additional ones that are gonna get done because of the road recon.

Yes, we are trying to really optimize the chips funding uh to get more sidewalks done.

There's um there's another pot of funding um via chips in Marchicelli.

Um something, the number four.

I'm not sure.

I'll I'll get the information.

Okay.

And can you get me a list of all the sidewalks that are on the list in addition to these for this year?

We don't I thought we had I was confused too about this list, so I don't think we have it yet, but we should have it shortly.

Thank you.

Yep.

And then and this one probably isn't for you.

Might be for I'm not sure who in the room, but we've had issues with our chips reimbursement and not getting reimbursed to 100% of eligible projects.

Um there had been talk of creating a different ownership structure for the chip's reimbursement process.

Uh was wondering if anyone had an update on that and where we were at.

I know that there's been shifts in leadership and um that's a great question.

Thank you.

Um Ry Deegan, first deputy commissioner of finance.

Can you restate the question one more time?

And there was money left on the table, and we've been told that it's because there was no real ownership in terms of the process that you know one thing happened in one department, another happened in another, and and the coordination wasn't always there to get everything submitted properly and on time.

There had been talks and attempts at streamlining that and creating different ownership structure and was wondering where we were.

So happy to report that that has happened.

I can report today that we have submitted all funding that we have had in the past, we're basically at zero.

So whatever funding we get this year will be starting.

We've cleaned up all of the stuff from the past, so we are um whatever money we get from the state this year, we will finish out last year's season of work that we didn't have funding for and proceed with this year's work.

And so they don't owe anything.

Like we just submitted in February uh just last week our last claim um for the money that was still you know, quote unquote outstanding, but everything else is been we've requested and received.

Okay.

Thank you.

We've got, I guess before you leave, and Marie, we've got a better system in place now to make sure that doesn't happen again moving forward.

Definitely.

Absolutely.

And how is it different?

What does that look like?

Um I think there's just uh we have less people involved in the mix.

So uh there's uh uh two people that sit at DPW that kind of manage help with Neil and his and uh all the folks over there at DPW to make sure that they get the right information to provide to the person that sits in my office that then compiles that to turn in.

So um we're having monthly meetings uh about where things are in the process, and they we have a shared document that is now set up, and the um vendors are now submitting pictures, which has been a struggle for us, but now they're taking the pictures and labeling them, so a lot of the work that we were trying to run around and chase is will especially this this past year has greatly reduced.

Good to hear.

Thank you.

Okay, that leaves us to 23.

Yep.

Oh, did you have questions, sir?

No, go ahead.

We're good.

All right, 23.

I'll hand it over.

Good afternoon, Council, Neil Park DPW.

Uh these are for our recurring term agreements with outside engineering firms.

They provide a number of different services for us related to um technical expertise and uh engineering services related to traffic service.

Thank you.

Thanks, Neil.

Twenty-four good afternoon, Beth Smith from City of Syracuse Water Department, managed management analyst.

Um item 24 is to extend the contract with American Leak.

We have used utilized them in the past.

Um they help um locate any leaks going on throughout the system.

I have a question.

Sure.

Do we know how much we are saving from detecting and fixing the leaks in terms of financial resources?

How much we're saving?

Um, we're locating the leaks before they get worse, which is wonderful.

Um we're repairing them, you know, ASAP.

So I couldn't really put a number on that at this time.

I could certainly look into it.

They're the monitoring system though.

So I'm sorry, what they're the monitoring portion.

They monitor where the leaks are.

Like they detect, they detect the better.

Exactly.

Yeah, exactly.

So I'm just they have specialized equipment.

Yeah.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Is this on our pipes or valves, or is it on a car that we ride around in?

It's it's throughout the distribution system on the conduits and the services and water mains, and they um have special sensors that they will locate.

Yeah, they did this.

They said that last year.

So that's why I'm just saying, like, I don't is the question that we're we are saving here because I'm just I'm just interested.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, so if we don't find the leaks, we lose water, water is money and time and resources, and then the leaks get worse and we have worse disruption.

I just as a cost-benefit analysis.

If we weren't doing that, what financial position would we be in?

And we're doing that.

So we're saving money and infrastructure.

I just want to situate in context.

Sure.

Um it's it's certainly saving money.

Um, you know, if once a leak gets larger, um it's more people out of water, you know, bigger reconstruction, bigger.

I guess I'm gonna do that.

I was looking for the volume of water and the cost savings from what they've done for work for us before.

But I don't mean we do have annual reports.

I could certainly, you know, look into that for you.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Sure, sure.

Uh item 25 is to extend the not to exceed amount with our printing services.

Um we do have required EPA um mailings we need to do.

So it's increasingly not to exceed amount.

Is that mostly driven by the lead situation?

Recently.

Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes.

Um item 26 is really just changing the name of the owner on this property that is requesting permission to cross our right-of-way.

We came to um previously.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks, Beth.

Yes.

Uh oh no, I'm gonna take that one to the 27th.

27.

Good afternoon, counselors.

Mary Robison, city engineer.

Um, this item goes with um item 39, where we're requesting irrevocable permission to axon enterprises to construct, own, operate, and maintain um citywide deployment of license plate reading cameras.

Okay.

So we have a committee meeting on that on Friday at noon, so we'll we'll just we'll hold off on that because it had 39 has to go for 27 to make sense.

So thanks.

Thank you.

Yep.

I'll set.

Oh, Councilor Aaron Bridge.

I have items number 28 and 29.

Uh 28.

Good afternoon, Saisha Bird.

Um Commissioner Parks.

We have one item 28 is uh agreement with Dan Grover's DBA Olympic Tree and Landscape Management.

They're gonna be teaching a basic chainsaw operation training um at Heath Park on behalf of Onadaga Earth Corps.

So it's a two-day training.

They are insured.

Um, but it's because it's in Heath Park in one of our parks.

Okay.

Any questions?

Okay, thank you.

You have amended language in your packet.

That was just handed out.

Yeah, it was.

Oh, shoot.

Yeah.

Counselor counselor.

Yeah, I would change the short title to um reflect um the revised letter and or is thank you.

Well, are we gonna table this for uh uh law?

It is automatically tabled.

Okay it will be tabled.

All right, thank you.

Okay, uh Councillor Navy.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have items 30, 31, and 32.

Uh number 30 is what veal.

Uh Mr.

Hoover, did you want to someone from the city as well?

We'll have both okay.

Okay.

Afternoon again, council New Burke.

Uh DPW.

Yeah, item 30 is uh to renew the contract with VO ride.

Uh we had a committee meeting this morning on it.

I believe there's been a large amount of outreach, but um we're here to answer any questions.

Representatives from the uh company are also here.

Any questions?

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

So we'll hold that for Monday.

Uh number 31.

We have uh good afternoon, counselors.

Uh 31 and 32 are uh fairly straightforward items.

They are uh uh grant authorization request uh seek authorization to apply for two different grants, and they're they are complementary of one another.

One is with New York State DC, the other ones with national grid.

And the focus of these grants is to fund electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The city, while there is private uh EV charging infrastructure in the city, there is no public um EV charging infrastructure.

So our intent was to apply for both of these grants, the combined funds could fund a project, an implementation project in Progress Park to install two level three chargers, kind of the highest premier level in the park.

The item, and I've discussed the the item or the situation with a number of you over the last few days is there's a third item that was originally on the agenda, uh, and that was a waiver of competitive bid.

And that was to work with a contractor who has expertise in not only applying for these grants, but really implementing the projects.

We do not have any staff here at the city that has the expertise to apply for to purchase, to install, or to maintain this type of infrastructure.

So we're looking to do this pilot project with a partner with a proven record upstate uh to do this work and really help it's a turnkey project.

A couple of highlights, no cost to the city.

Um they have worked with over 40 municipalities in upstate, the the company that that we're requesting uh you know this waiver with there is it would be publicly accessible chargers.

This is an opportunity to fulfill what during our progress park um redesign, which we had public engagement.

We heard that EV chargers, electric vehicle chargers in this public city park would be a great addition.

Um so between the lack of expertise, no cost to the city, revenue positive infrastructure that people in this community are looking for.

We had proposed this package, these three items, both the two grant authorization and the third item for the waiver as a way to facilitate this entire project.

And obviously, we emailed you last week, we had uh follow-up from Councilor Moore, and then on Monday uh talked to Councillor Nave and the clerk in more detail.

Obviously, that item's been removed uh from the agenda.

And so Jacob would lead the grant writing for these two other these two projects.

That's correct.

And if we don't get it, then nobody gets anything.

No, but that's correct.

So there's no no there's no cost to the city, and I think for them to to get involved in the writing the grant.

That's correct.

And if we were to typically to have somebody do grant writing, it's a cost, and this is this is an opportunity to do it, get the grants written and the technical specifications, the specifications and standards.

Again, the city does not, this is not snow plowing, this is not masonry work, this is not HVAC.

We do not have this expertise in-house.

So while this is a unique situation, and I I think we can all agree on that, it's one that we cannot do in-house.

And so we need this, these additional services to do the work.

So I I had a chance to deep dive this a bit this morning after talking to the clerk and you and a bunch of other people.

Is Stephanie Pascal here?

Because I'm a little bit confused, and I think you're you were around during the time.

So is this like the save the rain money that we got years ago where we we get into contract with the company that's gonna do the chargers because they have the expertise to file the grant, they do that, and if they get the grant, we get the chargers.

If they don't get the grant, we don't get the chargers, and there's no money out of pocket.

Correct.

If we don't, and this is my big question: if we don't waive the competitive bid, do we have to pay to write the grant and then put money out of pocket for a grant that we might not get?

Correct.

Normally, as as um Owen was indicating, we if if you were doing some large, you know, securing of some assistance.

The specifications, like you mentioned, aren't just oh, we're gonna buy some computers or whatever.

It really has um engineering calculations that have to be accounted for, how much wattage, how much usage, and let the city of Syracuse know what that entails.

Um for us to um have procured those resources, we would miss these two grant deadlines, first of all, and we would have out-of-pocket expenses to have someone write and cross our fingers that we get it.

Um, like you mentioned, much like the Save the Rain program, there used to be a lot of technical advisors and engineers who would help write these grants because of all the calculations that are required, and then with the proceeds of the grant cover any fees associated.

So ultimately, I'm sorry, go ahead.

No, I would agree like that we we we should be RFPing everything we possibly can, but we were also in the same situation with like the the um for the lights for the parks, is that the same kind of thing where we put out the we hired somebody to actually file those grants for all that LED lighting and all that like it's it's almost the same thing.

The the solar lighting uh grant from the D the Department of Energy, we did in-house, that was not something that we waived anything for that.

What's the deadline for these two grants?

Uh it's the end of the month, the 27th.

Is it one of the I should mention that one of the grants is a rolling application, the other grant, the New York State grant is the 27th.

Combined, they really kind of go as a pair because if we don't apply for both, then we'd be on the hook for whatever grant we don't apply for.

So the vendor we'd be looking for, it's not just simply a vendor that comes in and sticks these chargers into a spot.

We're looking for a vendor that can actually write the grant, help write the write the grant, design the project, uh procure the chargers, organize the installation of the chargers, and then perform maintenance for five years.

Okay.

So it is it's it's committing to working with this firm.

That said, uh they have a list of of communities from Buffalo to Albany that they've worked with.

I've called some of those communities as as a reference, um, and they've had positive reviews.

They said it's a way to implement this relatively new technology, it's new to Syracuse, um, and do so with a partner that really knows how to do it.

Who gets the revenue from the chargers?

The city.

Counselor, I think we should talk off lines with it because this is more of a procurement issue.

So I think we should talk more offline.

Um I would be interested in adding this back in though.

Uh I did some research, and uh there are only two addresses listed as Syracuse on the make ready contractor program, neither of which lists grant development as their specialization, one of which is only commercial tracking, and the other one has a single EV installer on their staff.

They do not seem equipped to handle this.

So if I completely agree with the dominant both right that we don't get this information ahead of time in order to make a reason decision on grant applications we can support and what the city's cost benefit analysis will be in the future, and I would like city staff to take take that under advisement for the future.

But I don't know that we lose anything not doing the RFP process this time, as long as again, we are reiterating our commitment to having fair and open RFP processes for the future.

Understood.

Is that something that you feel what's the name of the company that would do this?

Jacob.

JCOM.

Yeah.

And they're not local, right?

I believe they're out of Canada.

They're a Canada.

Okay.

And are they a company that it's in is inclusive?

Because that's the issue that I had that we need to promote, we need to promote minority businesses, and we need to support uh union workforce.

So that's one thing I want to see out of the administration that we do emphasize that we're not leaving someone away from the table.

And that's and that's the same thing.

And building capacity.

Building capacity for vendors we would like to work with.

And and obviously capacity is an issue as as counselor mentioned.

We don't believe there's anybody in not only in the city but in the county that can do the full scope of work that I explained to you, which is really start to finish.

It's it's a situation that we these other communities have said we've taken advantage of it.

I talked to one yesterday that said we've done four that we did kind of a pilot project, we've gone back multiple times because it is fairly seamless.

Um, after the five years is up, what do they charge per year for the maintenance?

Do we have an idea of that?

No, uh, the city would be responsible for it.

One of the things that we've talked about internally is some of the revenue from these chargers could be directed uh to an account to do just that to maintain that.

Because we do even very conservative estimates, we expect this to be revenue positive.

Okay.

So I want to echo um counselor Aaron Right's um suggestion that we get more turnaround time so we understand what it is because the way you're explaining it now, I understand why we're doing what we're doing here.

But I think we need more time to understand that and have conversation.

I I commit to all of you to to do that to provide more time.

We had our first conversation with them in December.

We did a site visit in January.

So I don't have uh agreed more time would be beneficial to everybody, but we're presenting the scenario as it is.

And oh, and I have a quick question before we move on to the next item.

So if we get these two grants, so basically it's at no cost to the city.

Correct.

What if we don't get the two grants and we only get one?

We would presumably not move forward.

We do not have funding.

I I guess it depends how much is that gap?

That's a conversation we could have.

It it the the project combined is over 400,000.

So not something that could be quickly or easily filled by our budget at the very least.

So is the budget director here?

Because I would I just wonder is it is a good um good practice to um waive the RFP process.

Uh good afternoon, Councillor Zevin, loving budget director.

Sorry, what was the question?

Yeah, I just wonder is it is is it is this good practice?

I mean, we're looking at um not having funds and we enter into a asking the council to enter into agreement.

You know, so I I I just you know, I just want I'm just one I just want to clarify though, we could get both of these grants and then turn around and decide it's not in the best interest of the city and return the funding.

Like we have always the ability to say we don't want money that will generate revenue for the city into the future.

It's not the grants, it's not it's not the grants that are.

I understand the RFP process.

Yeah, that's and that's why I was asking how in light the counselors you think is a good practice.

If and that's the only thing this information, if you think is a good practice, is good information for them.

I just want to we want to be more transparent.

Like you said, we started this at the end of December, and now it just comes to us.

What nice alert the counselor say, hey, we're working on a project, you have any opinions.

So I think we have gotten items before, and it was like it will it was dropped on us, and it's like take it or leave it.

So we want to digest everything that we get.

And if you're playing something now for two months, let us know about it though.

I think you know, all of us know and go over this, okay.

Thank you.

My comment will be we obviously will always prefer to have a competitive process for procurement.

Not every scenario makes that a possibility for us.

Timeline is one of the number one factors.

So we are actively working on making our procurement as effective as possible, which will hopefully reduce the number of times we need to come to the council for waivers.

But there will be moments where the opportunity exists, and it'll be to the council to decide if the benefits outweigh waiving the RFP.

Um, why was the why was Progress Park equal the pick location?

I'll turn over the one.

This was identified one, it's a publicly accessible place.

Um when we did the public engagement last summer for the redesign of the park, which I think generally and happy to share some of that uh with the council.

Um it was something that people called for.

I think we that uh that the redevelopment greater redevelopment of the inner harbor, it's we've got new access from uh 81 off Clinton Street.

We have a county-led aquarium project, we have a variety of development projects in the inner harbor, and we've got a public park there, and this would be an amenity to to offer in a park.

Well, I mean, and I mean when I hear it at one location, I just to me it seems that it would be more feasible to be somewhat in the center city center where it there's more access to everyone versus you know, individuals driving to possibly from certain locations to one location when you can meet it in the center.

That's just my thing.

After we do the pilot project, if we could look at other city parks like Kirk Park, where there are growing amenities and people could charge their car while they are using the creek walk and the basketball courts, et cetera, it would be really wonderfully located.

Yeah, the the problem sorry.

Sorry, interrupting.

I I I agree, counselor.

Um this is a place where technically it's feasible.

We've had public input about it.

Um it has a relatively large parking lot that would be a good fit for this.

There's a couple basic uh logistics that just were a good fit, but I don't disagree that there are numerous other locations, and as the counselor said, perhaps I we're looking at this as a pilot, and this could be something where we do it in a a half dozen other places over the next few years.

So just so that we understand, you know, so the waivers of the RFP says something that we we can look at it independently, it cannot be the rule, it has to be the exception.

Understood that's that's our message.

Understood and heard loud and clear, and I I think Evan reinforced that.

Um that's not something that I intend to be back with in front of you with any time soon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So madam president will hold these items for home for Monday.

Monday is yeah, it's not a voting.

Yeah, we're voting.

And I I I guess just to put a finer point on it, is the waiver.

Probably talking about the meeting with that.

We'll talk about it.

Understood.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

The applications you're gonna ready.

Okay.

Yeah, there's no other question we can go back.

Uh we're gonna go ahead.

Oh, this is not okay.

Um, are you all you all said?

Oh, bossy, thank you.

All righty, so counselor more.

Thank you, madam president.

I have items 33 through 38.

Counselor, first deputy chief Richard Trudel, Circuits Police Department.

Um, under items 33 and 34, we're circuit uh seeking authorization from the council for the um issuance and sale of bonds.

Uh and the amount of milk one million dollars out of our capital plan from 2627 to complete our move to 1153.

Um I know you have an appendix there, but I'm happy to go over each one of those items within that appendix uh and what that money is planned for.

So we have uh money planned for our movers.

Um that's gonna actually move the fire department and the police department from the PSB to 1153.

We also have gym equipment in there as well.

Um we are definitely planning on moving our what we call our traditional gym equipment, flat benches, um, single body workout machines um from the PSB to 1153, but we're also seeking uh funds to create a functional fitness gym um that's whole body oriented.

Um it helps with injuries, it helps with uh officer wellness.

So that's one of the items.

Um one of the items is also a radio antenna that would go on top of the building that will allow our uh base stations within each floor of the building to reach 911 and our cars.

Um signage is another one, both interior and exterior signage um in terms of uh public.

Um when they come into the building, what what uh entities are are within the police department and signs on the doors.

Um CHA, that is our project manager on the uh uh project that would complete the balance of that project management.

There's a tactical training shoot house in there.

That's an indoor uh simulated uh uh training facility.

It looks like literally like a house room clearing, simulation guns.

One of the you know, ultimate and final uh decisions an officer can make is the use of deadly physical force, and this takes the uh the training from the classroom to the actual environment and provides um reality-based situations that officers can work through as a team or individually and navigate those situations successfully.

Um audio visual uh equipment that is for you know our Comstat room, our smart boards.

Um there is a museum budget of 20 grand, that is for police and fire combined.

It'd be the public entrance, um, you know, an area where all of our fallen officers and firefighters are displayed, um, things from the past are in a cabinet case.

Um, and then we also have uh some money in there in the amount of close to 204,000 for anything that might come up between now and then.

One important point is that we will not bond for any of the money we don't spend.

So, for example, we're asking for one million.

If we only have 700,000, we're only gonna bond for the 700,000.

It's not the full amount.

Question on the tactical training room.

Yes, so no bullets, no bullets, no bullets.

Simulation ammo though, just to be clear.

It's not lead, it's not uh, but uh you don't want to get hit by one of them.

There, but there is a reoccurring cost to that.

It's not a simulation without you're gonna be shooting something that you have to buy more of.

Yes, yeah.

So the the room is designed so that it can change, right?

So that's just one-time cost.

You can change the rooms around the the ammunition, the guns, the stuff that we used in that shoot house has a life and a use that would have to be replaced.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All righty, then um item 39, Council Monte.

35 through 38.

Oh, I'm 35 to 38.

Sorry.

Hello, um, comma counsel.

How's everybody doing?

Um, I have items 35 through 38, 35 and 36.

Um, is a request to authorize and bond for a purchase of a new hazardous materials apparatus.

Um, I'm requesting this uh apparatus because our current one was bought in 2010.

It's currently 16 years old.

Um, if approved on Monday, it's gonna take four years for this to come.

So our current apparatus will be 20 years, and it's already um past the life that we want it to be.

Um when um this apparatus is dispatched.

Usually there's something really bad going on.

Uh we get dispatched with this apparatus for like uh chemical, biological, radiological, uh explosive incidents, um, unknown uh substances.

Um they're the ones who go and mitigate any of these hazardous conditions, and um this vehicle is basically like a toolbox on wheels with specialty equipment to deal with all those um hazardous materials.

Chief question When you're going um to fund something list like this, are you getting several different um specs written by different companies to compare?

So the contract is as um low as it's gonna get its um off uh program called source well or HGAC, but it's on a it's on a contract.

So um you can do RFPs or if you have the contract, the contracts are in place, so you don't have to RFP.

They already have been vetted, all the different things you need to get off the contract are already in place.

But um our maintenance division, our particular uh team over there, um they are subject matter experts.

Um they actually help um other departments buy their purchase their apparatus and things like that.

So um so to your point, uh we have specs, but the specs are chosen off of the source well contract, and we pick right off that um contract.

That's how we buy all of our fire trucks.

Thank you.

Do you have a question?

Uh yes.

Um there have been increasing number of train derailments resulting in hazardous waste materials spillage over the last 10 years and 20 years.

Do you feel that we're adequately prepared for an eventuality like that in Syracuse?

Um, so we yes, we have a ton of targets that are related to hazardous materials in our city, and I didn't mention trail derainments and those types of things, industrial buildings, commercial buildings.

But we have a type one hazmat team, which is the highest level in New York State.

So we have the best trained technicians when something like this happens.

Um I think the next closest would be Rochester.

They have a uh a very high-level training team also, but um, we're as equipped as we can be.

But when something like that happens, we do call in the state.

Um they have um we have tasks for us throughout the state that we kind of team up together depending on how large um it is based on a mutual aid plan.

That's a state law that you know, so but I hope that answers your question.

Does anybody else have any questions?

Um in the next item um 37 and 38, I believe.

Um those are for our ground ladders.

Um, this is just to be able to replace um we have like 197 ground ladders.

Um this usually was in our operating budget.

Um, but the supply chain lag on purchasing them are 18 months, and so if we were gonna buy it inside one fiscal year, um what was happening is we'd order them, they wouldn't actually come till the next fiscal year, and so the money that we had budgeted um you would lose it, and then I would have to rebudget it.

So in the capital plan, it'll give us time to order and secure them.

It's an 18-month lead time on these ladders.

So anybody have any question on these?

And these ladders are on all of our fire trucks.

Every fire we go to, we throw ladders to every part of the building to make sure we can ventilate rescue people, um, they're uh critical part of our equipment.

Anyone have any other questions?

Chief, how those ladders, how long do those last roughly?

So they are um depending on the usage and where it um how the wear and tear on them.

So we have a third-party company that comes in and tests them.

Um we have different types of ladders, uh, extension ladders where you raise them up to three stories, four stories.

We have uh ladders that we put on top of a roof, a peak roof.

Um the majority of the ladders that these are gonna be, or the majority of this funding is gonna be for the roof ladders because we have firefighters that go on the roof of a building at every structure fire, and they cut a hole with a chainsaw, and like sometimes they nick the ladder, sometimes um those get in bad repair pretty soon pretty often.

What the material is that?

Um they're aluminum, they're mostly aluminum, they used to be wooden.

Um yes.

Okay, thank you.

And I know we've talked a few times.

I I know there's some new counselors.

Um I'll touch base with a few of you, and even um some of the counselors that have been on um to come over to the department to my office, so I can like go and walk you through all these different components, and it's a lot of complex things going on, but I want to make sure you have a full understanding of everything.

So I think we're also gonna want to dress up and ride in the fire truck.

Just as an F.

We'll be ready for you to come do that.

Okay.

All right, thank you everybody.

Wait, Chief, while we're on the um while we're on the ladders, I just wanted to um that I think you spoke on it a year or two ago.

Um, I'm not sure if anything was ordered from then.

I can't remember, but just wondering if any of the new ladders will be um uh suitable for like the situation with the um hotel that it was too tall.

Um just thinking because we're having all of these new developments being built and they're you know multi-leveled.

Yes, so these ladders are um we could probably get to four or four stories with our biggest ladder safe safely.

The rest of the ladders are on the fire trucks, are um ladders that are our bucket and our straight stick, um hydraulic ladders.

We would use those that are on top of the fire trucks.

Um they are actually mounted to the fire truck.

So the ground ladders are for um rescuing people out of windows and those types of things.

Anything on elevated floors over four stories, we're using the ladders on top of the fire truck.

So was there an order last year or so for an apparatus specifically for higher on the 110 foot ladder?

Yes.

So that's just these are like a ground ladder, like you would have in your your house, like the A-frame, or you might have a straight ladder, or you might have an extension ladder.

Um there's so there's two different types.

Those are aerial ladders that are actually affixed to the apparatus.

Okay.

So any of the high rise and even a hundred and ten foot.

If there's a building that's higher than that, we have to manually go in and do all the work.

Sometimes the ladders aren't helpful, yeah, depending on how big the building is and where the event is in that building.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, everybody.

Thank you, Chief.

Are you all set?

Yep.

Okay.

Um, item 39, Council Monta.

Thank you.

Councilor Williams.

Thank you.

I have items 40 through 43.

Um item 40 is the agreement with Mosaic that we had a committee meeting about yesterday.

Um we'll work with the administration to figure out a plan moving forward with that.

Um 41 will be in just one update on the mosaic contract.

Um, just did want to confirm.

Um, so the funds for that project have already been approved with the prior iterations of payroll modernization.

So we had uh 6.25 million approved.

Um we've spent down 3.7 million, so we still have about two and a half million available in that project.

So we aren't asked asking for any more uh funding.

And then additionally, um, just in the the letter, it says the it's expiring March 2027.

This would be an 18-month contract, so then that would um you know go through about June or July of 2027.

So thank you for Mike, wait a second.

So mate clear that up for me.

So you're saying all we would if what you'd be asking us to do with this instead of spending additional money, we would be approving the contract spending money that's already approved.

So yes, okay, correct.

So um we have to if the money already approved, why do we have to leave it?

We're approving the contract.

Yeah, determine the contract ended or something.

Yeah.

Well, we we haven't entered into a contract with Mosaic.

We're looking to enter into a contract.

That's why we're having any discussions.

So we would uh we would need new requests upon that.

Wouldn't we job?

Because I'm kind of confused.

Yeah, because I think this uh this item was uh originally introduced, I think, in October or maybe September of uh 25.

So it's an 18-month contract, so really once in you know it's an inception, then we're looking at 18 months from there.

So I think we're gonna need another request letter because basically you're gonna um you're asking for to use a previous bond in an account already.

So you're entering an agreement in an agreement with this company here.

Uh we're waiving RFP process or no, no, we did an RFP.

All right, so we entered into the con uh into a contract with this person here um to use money and accounts such as such and okay.

So that's what we're gonna do.

And a new time frame.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Frage.

Um 41 will be discussed in executive session.

Except today or when are we doing that?

Do we want to do it today?

Yeah, yeah, Wednesday's been our project.

Yeah, so on it, whichever it's on Wednesday.

Wednesday, okay.

And 42.

Good afternoon, counselors day project, director of IT.

Um, asking for your permission to proceed with item number 42.

The vendor we've done business with for six, eight, ten, twelve years.

Just that um we're buying more licenses now because the police department is adopting it as well.

So the purchase price is going over the annual uh public bid limit.

So they asked us to issue an RFP.

We're already purchasing it with from the only vendor in the area that offers it.

So we're asking for permission to waive the RFP process and continue using these guys.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Afternoon, all Matt OJ Commission of Assessment.

We've got some role corrections to request.

Uh primarily this is um I don't want to don't want to go too far down a technical rabbit hole.

We've got this railroad question.

Um New York State, ceiling and non-sealing.

Um this particular railroad railroad was classified for years as non-sealing.

Um the state dictates this.

Um after this roll year, the state changed its mind, so to speak, and uh has reclassified the railroad, which means we need to change the role for all these properties um and make them exempt.

They still pay on the partial exemption.

Um but the but the ceiling is uh is a level beyond which they would not pay.

Should the should the assessed value exceed the state dictated ceiling, the railroad would then be exempt on the delta beyond that.

I apologize if that explanation made things muddier.

Changes in the role not financial.

I could have saved a couple words, yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Uh Counselor Jones Rauser.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have item 44 through 50.

Um item 44 is still being held.

Yes.

Okay.

Well, so still being held.

Yeah.

Uh we wait now, New York State.

Um, so 45 through 50.

Um, good afternoon, counselors.

Caelan Hubbard, neighborhood planner with MBD.

Um, 45 is different.

It's an amendment to an ordinance.

So um 102 Elmhurst, that was already approved.

Uh there was a structure on the lot when it was approved, but it has since been demoed, so that's amending the ordinance to reflect vacant land now.

Um, and then 46 through 50.

So 46 and 49 are both uh requests for transfer.

Those would create uh building lot sites in um both current and future housing strategy areas.

And then 50, 47, and 48.

These are properties that have been um through multiple cycles of our foreclosure process.

Law was about to close, um, and then realized that we didn't have an ordinance um from common council to to be able to fully close on it.

So um it would be the last step that we would need to complete the foreclosure on these three properties.

Each of them are vacant residentials, um, have been vacant for I think uh one was occupied in 2023, the other two have been vacant for nearly a decade now at this point.

Um, but all three are now vacant um in some pretty severe disrepair.

Okay.

Um we didn't discuss these ones, so we'll have to yeah, we can meet if you'd like on that one.

All right, any questions so far?

Thank you, Baylor.

Thank you.

Are you all set?

All right.

Counselor Monto.

Thank you, President Penny Aqua items 51 and 52.

Uh, we're gonna hold 51.

Counselor Williams and I have some financial questions on that one.

52 will be held for a committee meeting on Friday at 12 o'clock.

And I'm set.

Okay.

Um so we're gonna go into executive session and um, yeah.

So meeting some to discuss the legal item.

Settlement.

So move.

Second move.

Okay.