Syracuse Common Council Meeting – February 4, 2026

The Common Council met on February 4, 2026, to consider a lengthy agenda of bond authorizations, contract extensions, grant applications, and property matters. The meeting began with a morning session and continued into the afternoon. Council members heard presentations from city department heads and staff, deliberated on several items, and held or tabled multiple agenda items for further review, committee meetings, or future votes. No formal votes were recorded during this session; items were presented, discussed, and generally held for subsequent meetings (e.g., Monday, February 6, or a Friday committee meeting) or tabled automatically for legal review.

Discussion Items

• Item 10 – Safety Program Expansion: Mike Messersmith (Human Resources) presented a continuance of the slip-trip-fall simulator contract, proposing to double employee participation to reduce work-related injuries. No questions were raised.

• Items 11-26 – Bond Sales and Contract Extensions (DPW, Water, Finance): Ann Portock (First Deputy Commissioner, DPW) presented numerous bond authorizations for capital projects:

  • Items 11-12: Dig One Street Streetscape Repair – sale of bonds.
  • Items 13-14: Fiber optic trunk replacement.
  • Items 15-16: City-owned building improvements ($800,000). Councilor Majok requested a detailed breakdown of improvements (e.g., HVAC, roofs, carpets). Corporation Counsel Joe Barry noted that bond council requires an exhibit listing the useful life of work. Staff agreed to provide a schedule.
  • Items 17-18: Sanitary and storm sewer reconstruction.
  • Items 19-20: DPW road reconstruction program. Councilor inquired about prioritization for 2026; staff confirmed the roads were on the list for that year.
  • Items 21-22: CHIPS reimbursable sidewalk project – sidewalks done concurrently with road projects. Councilor asked for a full list of sidewalks for the year and raised concerns about past CHIPS reimbursement shortfalls. Ry Deegan (Finance) reported that all past outstanding claims have been submitted (as of February 2026) and a new streamlined process with two DPW liaisons, monthly meetings, shared documents, and vendor photo submissions is in place to prevent future gaps.
  • Item 23: Recurring term agreements with outside engineering firms for traffic services (Neil Park, DPW, presented).
  • Items 24-26 (Beth Smith, Water Department): Extend contract with American Leak for leak detection; extend printing services (EPA mailings, lead-related); and change ownership on a right-of-way crossing. Councilor asked about cost savings from leak detection; staff could not provide a figure but noted water loss prevention.

• Item 27 – License Plate Reading Cameras (Axon): Mary Robinson (City Engineer) stated this item is linked to Item 39. A committee meeting is scheduled for Friday, so the item was held.

• Items 28-29 – Parks Chainsaw Training: Saisha Bird (Parks Commissioner) presented an agreement with Dan Grover/Olympic Tree for chainsaw operation training at Heath Park for Onondaga Earth Corps. Amended language was distributed; the item was automatically tabled for law review.

• Items 30-32 – EV Charging Infrastructure at Progress Park: Items 31 and 32 seek authorization to apply for two grants (New York State and National Grid) for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. A third item (waiver of competitive bid) was removed from the agenda. City staff (likely Owen or Jacob) explained the proposal: a turnkey pilot project with vendor JCOM (Canadian) to design, procure, install, and maintain two level-three chargers at Progress Park at no cost to the city. Revenue from chargers would go to the city. Councilors expressed concerns about the lack of advance notice, the RFP waiver, and the need to promote minority businesses and union workforce. Budget Director Zevin questioned whether waiving the RFP was good practice. Staff committed to provide more information in the future. Both grant applications will proceed; the RFP waiver was not part of the agenda. Items were held for Monday’s meeting.

• Items 33-34 – Police Department Move to 1153: Chief Richard Trudel (Police) requested $1 million in bonds to complete the move from PSB to 1153. Funds include movers, gym equipment, radio antenna, signage, project management, tactical training shoot house (simulation, no live rounds), audio-visual equipment, museum displays, and contingency. Councilor asked about recurring costs for training ammunition; chief acknowledged replacement costs.

• Items 35-38 – Fire Department Apparatus & Ladders: The Fire Chief presented:

  • Items 35-36: Bond for a new hazardous materials apparatus (replacing 16-year-old unit). Contract off the Sourcewell/HGAC program. Councilor asked about preparedness for train derailments; chief cited a Type 1 hazmat team (highest in NY) and mutual aid from the state.
  • Items 37-38: Bond to purchase ground ladders (aluminum, extension and roof ladders) due to 18-month lead times. Moving from operating to capital budget to avoid losing funds across fiscal years. Councilor asked about high-rise capability; chief explained aerial ladders are used for buildings over four stories.

• Items 40-43 – Miscellaneous:

  • Item 40: Agreement with Mosaic (payroll modernization). Existing funds ($6.25M approved, $3.7M spent, $2.5M remaining) – no new money requested. Councilor clarified the need to approve the contract, not additional funding.
  • Item 41: Scheduled for executive session (legal settlement).
  • Item 42: IT waiver of RFP for purchasing additional licenses (police department adoption). Vendor used for 6–12 years; sole provider.
  • Item 43: Assessment roll corrections for railroad properties reclassified by the state as non-sealing, making them exempt above the ceiling (no financial impact to city).

• Items 45-50 – Property Matters: Caelan Hubbard (MBD) presented:

  • Item 45: Ordinance amendment for 102 Elmhurst (vacant land after demo).
  • Items 46-49: Transfers to create building lots in housing strategy areas.
  • Items 50,47,48: Three vacant residential properties (foreclosure completion). All held for further discussion.

• Items 51-52 – Held: Item 51 held for financial questions; Item 52 held for committee meeting on Friday.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during this session. All items were presented with discussion and then either:
  • Held for subsequent council meetings (Monday, February 6, or later),
  • Tabled automatically for legal review (Item 28-29),
  • Referred to committee (Item 27 and 52),
  • Placed on hold for additional information or executive session (Item 41, 51).
• Staff committed to providing additional documentation (e.g., breakdown of building improvements, list of sidewalks for 2026, details on cost savings from leak detection).
• The EV charging grant applications will proceed; the related RFP waiver was not on the agenda.
• The meeting concluded with a move to executive session to discuss a legal settlement (Item 41).