Syracuse City Council Study Session - February 9, 2026

The Syracuse City Council held a study session on February 9, 2026, to review numerous agenda items, most of which were deemed ready for approval without discussion. The primary debate centered on items 30, 31, and 32 regarding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, a grant opportunity, and a proposed waiver of the standard RFP process.

Discussion Items

• EV Charging Infrastructure Items (30-32): Planning and Sustainability staff presented three items related to applying for a state grant (up to $400,000-$500,000) to install EV chargers at a public park. Staff recommended a waiver of the RFP process to work with a specific pre-approved vendor who would provide services at no upfront cost. Councilor Caldwell expressed strong concerns about fairness, equity, and the lack of outreach to other vendors on the approved list or local minority-owned businesses. Staff (Owen and Michael) explained that the grant deadline was February 27, leaving insufficient time for a full RFP (typically 4-6 months), and that the vendor was unique in offering no-cost grant writing and technical expertise. Councilor Monto and others debated the balance between seizing the opportunity and upholding competitive bidding practices. It was noted that only vendors on National Grid's approved list could participate, and no local vendors were on that list.
• Other Items: Items 33-38, 40-43, and 44-50 were presented as ready with minor adjustments (e.g., correction on item 40's expiration date). Items 44, 51, and 52 were held for further financial review.

Key Outcomes

• Items 30-32: The council decided not to withdraw these items. Staff will attempt to expedite a limited solicitation among approved vendors and report back. The items will remain on the next agenda, potentially requiring another waiver to be added due to time constraints. Council President indicated they would "hustle like heck" to see if a quick RFP could be run.
• Held Items: Item 44 (Counselor Joe Rouser's item) and items 51 and 52 (both held by Councilor Monto for financial questions) were set aside for future discussion.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after all items were addressed.