OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Online Application Portal Training - March 11, 2026

Public Meetings — Wednesday, March 11, 2026
BodySyracuse, New York
SessionPublic Meetings
DateWednesday, March 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:09

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I think we are gonna go ahead and get started.

0:02

If some folks join us here in the next minute or so, I think that's okay.

0:06

So I just want to welcome you all to our online application portal training.

0:11

Um and thank you all for joining us today.

0:14

We're excited to have you all here and talk about Clarity.

0:18

Um just really quickly, I'm gonna talk about uh why we've chosen the system and why we're we're so excited to have it.

0:25

Um we started working with Clarity a handful of years ago.

0:30

Um the reason that we chose this system is because many, many reasons.

0:36

But um, first of all, it's it's a cloud-based um platform, um, which is great for us and our users and accessibility.

0:43

Um, but we we also chose to partner with Clarity because they are um their goal is to continue to grow this system.

0:51

Um, and and what you're going to see is um not always the same thing.

0:58

Um we're we're excited.

1:00

We we chose the system because it's one that will continue changing and growing with us.

1:06

Um they're constantly and consistently adding new features and new bells and new whistles that make it both easier for applicants um but also easier for us internally.

1:18

Um so we feel like this system is um not just great at what it does, but it has a lot of potential for the future.

1:27

Um, and we're really excited to partner with a company who wants to continue to grow the system and continue um to build on it and make it better, um, not just for Syracuse, but for all municipalities that are using it.

1:40

Um, so I just a few a few house cleaning items for you all.

1:44

So this is an informational setting where we're gonna show you the portal.

1:49

Uh, we're gonna talk about um how you how you get logged in, um, how you apply for these applications.

1:56

Um if you have any questions throughout this session, please feel free to plug those into the chat.

2:02

We do have a staff member who is dedicated to just responding to those questions that you have.

2:07

But yeah, we we hope that you you guys find this all very informational.

2:12

Um we will have uh we have resources on our website.

2:16

And of course, above and beyond uh this informational setting, if you if you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the permitting staff.

2:25

Uh, we're super happy to answer those for you.

2:30

Awesome.

2:31

Thank you, Jessica.

2:32

Um, I'm gonna jump in here.

2:33

My name is Sarah Paolo.

2:35

I'm the public information officer that supports neighborhood and business development.

2:41

Um just a couple of clarifying things.

2:44

So you heard Jessica mentioned Clarity.

2:47

Um, you'll also see Camino um mentioned as well.

2:51

Like, well, what is that?

2:52

Um basically that's the software that we use um for the online um applications.

3:00

So um that's the system that we chose.

3:04

Um, and we're calling it just for public facing purposes, the online application portal.

3:11

Um, and so um you'll see though that the email um to send uh questions to us about um any of the applications or troubleshooting that you might have while you're um using the system is Camino at SYR.gov.

3:28

Um and so that's just why we wanted to kind of help clarify like some of the naming conventions that you're going to um see.

3:35

But the uh front facing um word that we're using is just the online application portal.

3:42

Um and so on our website, that's what you'll see.

3:45

Um if you go to SYR.gov slash online applications.

3:51

Um that's going to be the place on our website that brings you directly to the portal and then also provides um some more information about how to sign up, steps to apply, as well as resources that you can access.

4:07

So I'm just going to jump in here real quick so that you can um get a little bit more uh familiar with our website.

4:18

Um this is access from the central permit office page, or if you just search in um the search bar online application portal, it will show up.

4:30

It gives an overview and provides a direct link that will bring you right into the login page.

4:38

Uh it also provides an overview of exactly what you will find on the portal.

4:43

So if you're curious, um what types of applications are on there, it lists what those are, um as well as some tools and guides.

4:53

We have a zoning and application discovery tool that allows you to find out more information about zone districts.

5:00

We have meeting registration forms, which are specific to commercial projects.

5:06

And then we have a list of all the permit applications, the business licensing applications, periodic inspections.

5:15

We have an application for if you're interested in purchasing city-owned property, specifically vacant land.

5:22

And then we also have zoning applications.

5:25

So as of earlier this month, all of our permitting and licensing applications are now on the online application portal.

5:35

If you scroll down, it'll provide the basic steps to apply.

5:39

So how to access and create an account and signing in and beginning submission.

5:44

Those are all things that my colleague Paul is going to go over with you shortly.

5:49

And then also just another important thing to highlight is the resources section because that'll link you to pages where there's more um detailed instructions, like what the requirements are, what are some of the um items that you're going to need to upload before you apply.

6:10

So if you want, you know, more specific details, that's where these pages come in.

6:15

And so we put them all together in the resources section.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Technology and Innovation█████████████████████████████████████████████81%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████14%
Public Engagement███5%
Summary of Proceedings

Online Application Portal Training - March 11, 2026

The City of Syracuse held an online training session on March 11, 2026, to introduce the new online application portal (branded as Camino/Clarity) for permitting and licensing. The session covered account creation, application submission, file uploads, payment, and status tracking. Staff members Jessica, Sarah Paolo, and Paul presented the system features and conducted a live demonstration.

Discussion Items

  • Introduction and System Overview: Jessica explained that the city partnered with Clarity several years ago because the platform is cloud-based, constantly updated, and scalable for future needs. She noted the system is designed to improve accessibility for applicants and internal efficiency.
  • Portal Access and Naming: Sarah Paolo clarified that the software behind the portal is called Camino, but the public-facing name is "Online Application Portal". The portal is accessible at SYR.gov/onlineapplications. It includes a zoning discovery tool, meeting registration forms for commercial projects, permit applications, business licensing, periodic inspections, vacant land purchase applications, and zoning applications.
  • Account Creation and Sharing: Paul demonstrated how to create a Camino account using an email and password. Applicants can share access with contractors or architects using the "share" button, granting them equal ability to upload documents and pay. All shared users must have their own Camino accounts.
  • Notifications and Comments: The system sends email notifications for permit updates (e.g., reviewer comments, issuance). Users cannot reply directly to the email but must log into Camino. Comments placed within an application are visible to all parties (applicants, reviewers) and serve as a time-stamped historical record.
  • Application Statuses: Paul explained key statuses: unsubmitted (missing documentation), in review (plan examiners reviewing), on hold, ready for issue, approved, and finaled (work complete). He noted that rejections or cancellations only occur for completely wrong application types (e.g., applying for a fence instead of an elevator).
  • File Uploads and Requirements: All construction drawings must be uploaded as PDFs; screenshots, PNGs, or photos are not accepted because the review software only supports PDFs. For surveys, applicants must provide both a blank copy and a highlighted copy showing proposed work.
  • Insurance and CE200: The system asks for workers' compensation/disability insurance (CE200). Solo workers can obtain an exemption from the state and upload it via Camino. Insurance is requested toward the end of the process to avoid delaying permit review.
  • Payment: Payments can be made by credit card (with a 3% non-refundable vendor fee) or by check (must be brought in person with the permit/application number). Checks cannot be mailed.
  • Issued Documents: Once a permit is approved, all placards and documents are downloadable from the portal; applicants no longer need to pick up physical copies.
  • Live Demonstration: Paul walked through a fence permit application, showing conditional questions (e.g., license numbers for trades, start/end dates, construction cost minus MEP costs). He also demonstrated a right-of-way permit, noting that the City requires insurance certificates list "233 East Washington Street" as an additional insured.
  • Historical Permits and GoPost: Paul confirmed that permits previously submitted through GoPost will not be migrated to Camino. Paper copies remain valid; unfinished GoPost applications will be brought over to Camino. Historical comments are visible to newly added secondary applicants.

Key Outcomes

  • The online application portal is now live for all permitting and licensing applications (as of early March 2026).
  • Attendees were directed to email Camino@SYR.gov for further questions or troubleshooting, including issues with parks permits.
  • The presentation slides and an online application portal guide will be sent to registered participants and posted on the website.
  • Staff will continue to develop additional resources and guides.

Meeting Transcript

I think we are gonna go ahead and get started. If some folks join us here in the next minute or so, I think that's okay. So I just want to welcome you all to our online application portal training. Um and thank you all for joining us today. We're excited to have you all here and talk about Clarity. Um just really quickly, I'm gonna talk about uh why we've chosen the system and why we're we're so excited to have it. Um we started working with Clarity a handful of years ago. Um the reason that we chose this system is because many, many reasons. But um, first of all, it's it's a cloud-based um platform, um, which is great for us and our users and accessibility. Um, but we we also chose to partner with Clarity because they are um their goal is to continue to grow this system. Um, and and what you're going to see is um not always the same thing. Um we're we're excited. We we chose the system because it's one that will continue changing and growing with us. Um they're constantly and consistently adding new features and new bells and new whistles that make it both easier for applicants um but also easier for us internally. Um so we feel like this system is um not just great at what it does, but it has a lot of potential for the future. Um, and we're really excited to partner with a company who wants to continue to grow the system and continue um to build on it and make it better, um, not just for Syracuse, but for all municipalities that are using it. Um, so I just a few a few house cleaning items for you all. So this is an informational setting where we're gonna show you the portal. Uh, we're gonna talk about um how you how you get logged in, um, how you apply for these applications. Um if you have any questions throughout this session, please feel free to plug those into the chat. We do have a staff member who is dedicated to just responding to those questions that you have. But yeah, we we hope that you you guys find this all very informational. Um we will have uh we have resources on our website. And of course, above and beyond uh this informational setting, if you if you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to any of the permitting staff. Uh, we're super happy to answer those for you. Awesome. Thank you, Jessica. Um, I'm gonna jump in here. My name is Sarah Paolo. I'm the public information officer that supports neighborhood and business development. Um just a couple of clarifying things. So you heard Jessica mentioned Clarity. Um, you'll also see Camino um mentioned as well. Like, well, what is that? Um basically that's the software that we use um for the online um applications. So um that's the system that we chose. Um, and we're calling it just for public facing purposes, the online application portal. Um, and so um you'll see though that the email um to send uh questions to us about um any of the applications or troubleshooting that you might have while you're um using the system is Camino at SYR.gov. Um and so that's just why we wanted to kind of help clarify like some of the naming conventions that you're going to um see. But the uh front facing um word that we're using is just the online application portal. Um and so on our website, that's what you'll see. Um if you go to SYR.gov slash online applications. Um that's going to be the place on our website that brings you directly to the portal and then also provides um some more information about how to sign up, steps to apply, as well as resources that you can access. So I'm just going to jump in here real quick so that you can um get a little bit more uh familiar with our website. Um this is access from the central permit office page, or if you just search in um the search bar online application portal, it will show up. It gives an overview and provides a direct link that will bring you right into the login page. Uh it also provides an overview of exactly what you will find on the portal. So if you're curious, um what types of applications are on there, it lists what those are, um as well as some tools and guides. We have a zoning and application discovery tool that allows you to find out more information about zone districts. We have meeting registration forms, which are specific to commercial projects.

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TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
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