We would like to get going with our meeting.

Welcome to public works and infrastructure committee meeting.

I'm joined by my colleague Donna Moore, Hannah Enright, Jimmy Mantov, Martinave, myself, Joel Majuka the chair, and our president Rita Penawa.

Do I Eric, are you joining us?

I was gonna be here and then Okay, okay.

Would you introduce yourself?

Uh good afternoon.

Oh, and then I'm I'm sorry, and uh counselor Corey Williams as well.

Go ahead.

Uh good afternoon, my name's Jeremy Thurston.

I'm the president of the Hainer Hoyt Corporation and the contractor that's doing the work up at Syracuse University for the project we're gonna discuss.

Okay.

Well, this meet and then we have another person.

I've got uh Joel Fury from Syracuse University and the director of Canvas Manning Design Construction.

So welcome.

Um first we would like to just see the overview of the project, to see uh where is it, uh what is it for, just uh those basic stuff.

Uh for just we have people joining us online as well, so just give them a little gist of what this project is for and what's about.

So about practically two years ago the university initi uh uh put in place an initiative.

Um to um move most of our sophomore class to the main campus.

So we went through the uh zoning approval process.

Um we have right now we have one of the buildings um is on Ostrom, and then these two that we're talking about here related to the Comstock uh related to the Com to Comstock Ave are the um Waverly Ave uh residence and dining hall and the Comstock residence hall.

Um the bed numbers here.

Um Waverley is 762 beds.

And uh Comstock's 537 beds are located on Comstock uh Avenue near the intersection of Comstack and Waverly.

Um and the Ostram residence hall is is located just a couple blocks away on Ostrom Ave.

Um so right now um we have the project on Ostrom is is well underway.

Um and Hayner Hoyt, represented by Jeremy Thurston here, is in the process of beginning the foundations or doing the foundation's work on uh the Waverly and Comstack projects.

So when when did uh this project commence?

Um when do we start?

Um we we probably started about two months ago where the first shovel went in the ground.

Okay, okay.

And um, I I take everything for that you need from the city is in order, right?

You've got your permits, you've got everything you need.

All of that stuff.

Yes, so right now we are in the process of of uh we're doing third-party review on the building permits for Waverly and Comstock.

We've uh all the city com city departments have come provided comments.

And uh well Bella is closing out that process right now with uh with the central government office.

We but we do have site and foundation permits allowing us to start construction.

Okay.

Um so let give me a second, let me turn to Eric quickly.

Eric or is it oh what just happened?

I think the computer went to sleep, so he was just uh gonna turn it back on here.

Um but yes, counselors, sorry.

Okay, so so from from this project, what what have from the liability waiver, how's that has been in terms of implementation of it?

Sure, you know, all of that from the city's side.

Yes.

So there's a number of different permits and and permissions that the project team and Syracuse University have come before the city on.

Uh that includes a few different things.

So uh it includes the parking meter rental is one element for any portion of a roadway where the parking meter spaces are being taken up.

The city has a process and a calculation by which uh that needs to be calculated.

The payments from the project team and him from Hanar Hoyt have been paid.

Uh, there's also a road cut uh permit application.

Um this is, and I think part of the conversations that we've had leading up to this meeting is that over the past year, uh the engineering department as well as other city departments did work with the common council on making modifications to the project fee schedule.

Um part of that was looking at both the refundable and non-refundable fees uh in order to examine projects in which there's work happening in the right of way.

Uh there have been times and projects in the past where not all of the work uh from a full restoration standpoint had been completed.

And so in working with the uh the city engineering team and other members, um, this was designed to really provide more, particularly on the the refundable piece of as long as you restore the right of way and if you're able to restore the the area accordingly, there is a way in which the project team developer or the general contractor can recoup those funds.

It's part of that process, and we did look and and I think really uh tried to be thoughtful around that approach.

But one of the things that was not contemplated at the time when we were developing that fee schedule is the particular instance and this project that we're talking about, which is a upwards of a two-year road closure, and ultimately what that means when you were to examine shutting down um a right of way and a roadway.

And and I think it it may be helpful in a moment for the project team to talk about some of what was leading up to the need for this roadway to be closed because it has two active construction sites on either side of Comstock.

Um, but in terms of the background, that piece, and this is the first project, first time we've encumbered this or encountered this this situation where we have a full closure of the roadway.

Um it's it's under the terminology of project staging.

We have had examples where you may need to close down a portion of a road or a lane of a road, um, and there's some project staging that may take place off a private property and into the right-of-way.

So it's part of that calculation, it does look and examine um that sort of um there's a methodology in terms of how that gets calculated.

Some of that too is that it renews every 14 days.

And so in this particular case and with this particular project, one of the things that we've really been looking at is you know, we have times where you may need to close down a portion of the right-of-way for a for a period of time for a phase of the project.

We haven't had a situation like this in which you have a 100% closure of a full road for the entire length of the project, upwards of two years into 2027.

And so, as part of that conversation, um, one of the things that's been done in the immediate term was a 90-day um permission to be able to close down the road, something that is afforded in the charter uh and the DPW commissioner has the ability to approve.

Anything longer than that 90 days does require common council approval.

Um, it is and that ultimately was the legislation that uh that was presented and and and is um was submitted for consideration.

Um the other piece here that I would just say, and just certainly speaking on behalf of of the administration, uh one of the things we certainly want to be able to do is have a dialogue and continue talking with the council about um looking at when we have a project in this sort of situation involving a full road closure, and again, a number of reasons contributing to what this road closure entails, um, how to look at that and look at it really from a global perspective for projects going forward.

We understand that this is likely not gonna be the last time in which a project may need to close down a street for a period of time because of the fact that you have a limited amount of construction staging that can happen on the private property.

So, really uh what we're looking at is when this impacts the right of way.

Um, and so that has been a piece where part of the reason for the request is simply for 90 days, is there's a number of different dialogue and discussions that we want to continue to have both with the council.

We're also uh in a position where the university has brand new leadership that I know has been widely covered uh and publicized.

Um, a new administration as well that is at this point still in the process of working through a number of things.

So um, so I think our goal today, and I'm happy to take additional questions, but for the context, and I hope it's helpful, counselor.

Um what was never considered initially when the council adopted this last year is a situation like the one we have before us involving a full road closure for what is gonna be upwards of two years.

So I think my question it might be to our our colleague from Hainer Hoyt.

In a city like New York City in Manhattan, do they close streets to do construction in Manhattan?

I can't answer that because I don't do any work in Manhattan, so I'm not sure.

Upon your knowledge of the industry.

I'm sure they close sidewalks and lanes in portions of the city, but again, I I haven't done any work in New York City, so I can't advise on that.

Is there a way to do this construction without a road closure?

It certainly would be possible.

Um our concern is that because we're doing two high-rise buildings across the street from each other, both buildings being built to the property lines or pretty pretty close to the property lines, and the need for us to be bringing in dozens of tractor trailers of materials on a daily basis and swinging tower cranes over the top of the street in an area with lots of college students and uh other vehicular traffic.

You know, our concern would be the safety of somebody making a poor decision in crossing through a work zone where we're unloading, you know, large volumes of material with tower cranes overhead.

Um that section of Comstock is a one-way street.

Um, so is it would only be traffic uh heading to the north away from the university.

And you know, we're just you know our feeling is that it would potentially invite unnecessary risk to potentially allow somebody to walk up that street with all of the construction activity that would be happening on both sides of the road.

So first is 90 90 days, and are you all set, counselor?

Yeah, for now.

First is 90 days, and then uh Eric, you said that's uh then maybe in a larger lens, maybe two years.

Right?

Yes.

So so the legislation that was submitted for for consideration of the request was to um so at the end of March uh is when we anticipate the initial administrative road closure, that 90 days will expire.

Um in what we we are looking at this certainly from a number of different angles.

We want to continue talking and speaking with the with the council about you know, understanding again the the unique uh project before us and the fact that this won't be the last time that we see this.

The 90-day closure um is something that has to be approved by council, but would allow us additional time to work through both looking at the calculation and looking at the plan of how we examine this this unique situation, um, but knowing that the project itself, the construction will go past that additional 90 days.

This would really take us through the end of June.

Um, any additional extension is also something that the council would have to approve.

And so the thought process behind the 90 days is allowing us more time to be able to work through some of the different options, something that we would discuss directly with with the council in terms of how when that road cut permit, the the road cut itself has not been issued, and so that's where that fee schedule is ultimately um gonna be finalized is part of that that road schedule or uh road cut schedule.

There is a number of different fees uh in terms of both refundable and non-refundable that the project has already paid.

So there are fees and including the parking.

I mentioned the parking spaces as well as liability waivers for closing down the street.

The city has been paid and has collected those.

Um but first for the first 90 days for the first 90 days.

So in total, the what we have is and I will say it's broken into both um refundable and non-refundable.

So I just want to.

Do you have a hard copy of that to be able to provide to us?

I can't share the what I have is the breakdown of the each of the individual permits.

The other thing I know that the focus here primarily today is around Comstock and Waverly.

There is an additional project that's under construction uh involving a new hotel uh on University Avenue.

Now that does not involve a full road closure.

So that one certainly is one more that's more straightforward based on uh our our fee schedule and structure.

But so some of the information the permit office was able to provide me also included the uh the hotel project that's undergoing.

All these three projects started nine to day uh thirty uh right.

Our project started roughly two months ago, maybe a bit longer.

Two months ago.

And the Ostrom residence hall started probably about three or four months before.

And then the hotel that is in the process correct.

And they are technically three separate projects, so they each have unique timelines.

Um, but what is unique about the Comstock related project and the the two dorms that are shown is this is the one that ultimately is requiring a full road closure for for that period of time.

I mean, the probably makes the timeline on the payout.

Yes, I can I get you the listing of of what the the permit information is in each one of those additionally.

So the one that has not been issued is the road cut, and that ultimately is where the some of the fee schedule we would be able to finalize.

It is also very standard uh since we've implemented the new schedule.

Some of these numbers are finalized near or upon completion of the project, and then we're able to finalize that based on the final scope that was finished within the right of way to make sure that we have those numbers right based on the way the formula is set up.

Okay.

Um question on I'm so sorry, clarification.

So they have a right-of-way permit.

And they have a liability.

So a waiver permit?

Yep.

So a liability waiver is what ultimately allows for the road closure to take place.

And so that's what we're doing now.

Yes.

Okay.

What has not been issued for this project in question is the um road cut permit.

So ultimately, that road cut is where that is one of the things that's afforded for in the in the project schedule.

But all other permits pursuant to the start of this project have been issued.

And we have a foundation permit and a site permit that allowed us to start construction.

The building permit is under review.

We started construction before the building design was finalized.

So the building permit has uh been submitted.

We have comments back, the design professionals are responding to the comments at which point we would make the final payment for the general building permit in the very near future.

Yeah.

But we have paid for a foundation permit, we have paid for a site permit.

And it is common uh for projects once the footings foundations, once the configuration configuration of the building has been finalized when building permits may not be issued yet, but footings and foundations is a way to get that work started.

And the liability waiver is what allows for the road closure to take place.

So Eric, walk me through the liability waiver.

So we've got $75 fee.

Right?

Correct.

And then we've got down at the bottom temporary removal of existing parking meters, $1,500 per meter.

Correct.

And those are the only two things that have been paid.

At this point, that is correct.

We have the additional the road.

Do you expect dumpsters on the site?

So I would look to the project team in terms of a specifics for dumpsters on the site.

I don't believe there's any dumpsters in the right of way.

Okay.

Um construction trailers.

There is a trailer that is on the corner of Comstock and Waverly that would probably be encroaching in the right of way.

Okay.

Um we have equipment that is using currently the road is closed, so we have we're building a tower crane as we speak, so there is a crane in the street assisting with the construction of that tower crane.

Okay.

Do you have any material staging?

There is no material staging in the right of the didn't you tell us you needed the entire right-of-way for staging?

We will, yes.

But as I I didn't know if you're asking me at the moment or at the court during the course of construction.

Both.

Um advertising.

Signage.

Not in the right of way.

Scaffolding.

Not in the right of way.

Um right.

So Eric, at what point do they come back with an amended liability waiver for each of the items that we just talked about?

So it is one of the things I think that we our intention and our goal and what we have asked is part of the 90-day process is that we would have the ability to look at the scope of work being proposed with the project within the Comstock portion.

Part of the reason why we have not collected or nor issued the um road cut permit is because some of those things we are actively making sure we have all the information from a full scope of how the right-of-way is being used.

And then part of the conversation that we would look to have is before that road cut permit is issued, we have an agreement in place on the fees associated with that.

So that kind of goes against what's in the legislation in terms of checks being payable at the time of submission of the liability waiver.

So there is an initial payment that is made, but and I just want to make sure because I if we're joined by engineering, um, there are times where, depending on the scope of the project, if there's any adjustments that are made, that that initial payment then can be re um revised or modified.

And so that was the only point I was making going back to what I said a moment ago.

There is a payment that is typically scheduled and identified, um, but there is an ability to modify that depending on the scope of the work and the final work completed.

You know, I think my concern is that we have a situation here that you know they can make a compelling argument.

They've got construction both sides of the street.

There is concerns in terms of the safety of you know, students and pedestrians.

Um, you mentioned earlier that it's the first of more to come, right?

And so essentially what we're doing now is we're setting the precedent for what happens in the future.

And right now we have legislation passed, which should be our precedent, right?

That should be our our starting point.

And we're now having a conversation saying, well, because of the unique situation, we need to change it.

And that kind of goes against the whole intention of having legislation that applies uniformly to everybody.

So, counselor, I think then as we have been talking about this and and identifying um, you know, when when this design was done, when the fee struck structure was developed and the fee schedule is intended.

I know I mentioned this earlier, it was a full road closure that was not anticipated.

So I know there's other projects that are under construction right now, including the hotel, including the Ostrom dormitory complex.

Um it's a different situation when it is a full road closure.

Um there are going to be other projects that we anticipate that may involve a closure of a roadway.

And I think one of the things we want to be looking at and really trying to understand and be thoughtful around is if there are moments in which the way in which the fee schedule currently is structured and which it's a 14-day renewal when that sort of road closure takes place and is happening, is that does that make projects economically infeasible?

And this is more looking across the board at projects in the city.

And so if there is, and this is part of the reason why we've gone back and have been looking at this, if that ultimately is the case where it the way that cumulatively works over the course of a time frame in which the way that that formula currently is scheduled and compounding, is that it has potentially the ability for projects to not move forward or for not to not pencil out properly.

And so I think it's one of the an unintended effects potentially of the way that the fee schedule is written now.

So I mean, I fully comprehend that we don't want to make projects economically unfeasible, right?

And and we say that at the same time as we're entering budget negotiations, at which point we have a 20 million dollar projected, if not more, deficit.

So at what point do we think about the economic feasibility of our city and try to balance that with the economic feasibility of our projects?

Yeah.

And I think it's a point that's extremely well taken, counselor.

I think it is one of the things that we also are not taking lightly at all in these discussions.

I think it is one of the reasons why too.

What is not being asked and what the legislation has not presented is to look at the entire road closure, knowing that we need additional time to understand both the effects for projects going forward, not just this one today, but also working on uh an approach that we think is is something that could work um in the way we're looking at it, but also the dialogue with with you all as the council.

So I think that that is one of the reasons why we realize that we want to do this expeditiously.

It's part of the reason why the 90 days is being presented.

The the road closure extended past that 90 days will require also council authorization.

Um your point is is well made.

It is something we're looking at with our fee schedule and not just this particular instance.

I think we're talking about our fees as a whole across the city and across the board, and some of which are far out antiquated, have have not been updated in quite some time.

I think this was really an approach uh to move in the right direct right direction.

Um they're also one of the questions that we've been looking at is um last year it was when the new fee schedule was put into place, and again, it really has increased both the refundable but non-refundable.

Um that fee schedule as as it has stood um aside from the road cut permit, also has just allowed us to be able to collect more from this project and from other projects going forward.

So I would say it was a step in the right direction that we made last year, and one I think that that again is a positive step for the city.

But what we did not initially anticipate is an example with a full road closure.

And so one of the things we want to do is think about at a macro level.

Does this have unintended consequences on development in the city of Syracuse going forward?

So is this is this the first project where it's a road closure happened, or is this outside of the is this an anomaly basically?

It it's it we don't see this often.

So and and as I said, there's three.

Since we've adopted the new fee schedule, this is the first project I'm aware of where it has involved a closure of the road.

Um so Eric, even if you just have to do some back of the napkin math here, can we put numbers to this?

How much are we talking?

If it is a full two-year closure, what would the fees be with that full two-year closure based upon our current fee schedule now?

What would it be if we left nothing else?

We changed nothing, no other arrangements.

So we have we've done analysis and we have looked at this, and I think one of the big things that we are looking at is how you account for the roadway that's being closed itself.

Now, with the the approach that we have taken is that it is the roadway from curb to curb uh of the area that's being shut down on Comstock.

So that area, um, and we can get you uh we've looked at the the numbers, it is around 2.6 million in terms of again from curb to curb on Comstock for the portion that's being closed down.

Um, and that is again part of the reason why is that the way it's structured around construction staging is that when an area is closed down and it's used for a staging purpose, it renews every 14 days.

And so what we're talking about is due to the construction timeline is that that 14 days is compounded.

Um, and so that that's where ultimately you get to that cumulative total that's in the millions of dollars.

But to answer your question, from curb to curb, as we've looked at comstock, it's approximately 2.6 million.

And Eric, why did you go curb to curb instead of sidewalk to sidebock?

So I think uh I would say no, it's okay.

I think well, let me I I think what I will do is we we can provide more information and insight into ultimately the methodology that was used to arrive and and why the curb to curb and and again and the other thing I would say, I realize we're having a committee meeting and discussion on this today.

This is certainly a conversation that I and others will make ourselves available to really look at and we'll share the information that has been requested around the existing permits and the fees.

Um so that but that is ultimately again how we were arriving at that number.

Good afternoon, Murza Malikos Engineering Department.

The reason why it was decided um 2.6 million was there's um work zone trap um there's a work worksheet that the developer has to implement so they at that time they were you know they were just showing the road so with the road we estimated 2.6 million dollars the question will be will they use more than the road you know will they do the curb behind the curbing and all from right of way to right of way.

So that's why we came up to be 2.6 because initially it was just the road supposed to be closed down.

Well we're gonna close the sidewalks too right well that's the thing now if they're gonna close down the from property line to property line it expands.

So this is the time to go back to that initial document and get it reviewed and get the actual rather than the actual the intent is how this works this whole permit fees and everything is we give it to the contractor first the applicant they fill it out you know and we rely on their information how much they're gonna occupy the right of way we base the fee off of that.

The applicant pays for it and then the enforcement comes in so if they say we're only going to occupy the curve you know from the road then that's how it's based on but if the enforcement comes in and we stop by the site and we see it's from right of way to right of way then the fee is going to increase even more.

But that's how it's based that's how it based the 2.6 million and all the stuff but we can assume if there's tower cranes on both sides of the street we're not gonna let anybody walk on the sidewalks am I right there?

Sidewalks will be closed too closed the sidewalks as well as the road okay okay can you show me uh how the traffic is gonna change with what the at block close how are we going to reconfigurate the traffic pattern we've detoured yeah we've detoured traffic to walnut and up to ocean uh what's the Marshall um and we've uh we've replaced sidewalks as well and improved various sidewalks that were damaged in order to make sure that the walkways are um clear and that sidewalks are fully replaced and all the four-way stop signs or are you gonna have traffic light is normal we're just redirecting traffic to the existing traffic measures that are in place for those blocks and what are safe what safeties you have in place we had a a tragedy last year two people were killed near a dump truck so what are the safety precautions that we're using so pedestrians don't accidentally walk in that area so we've closed the sidewalks and the street and they are frontstead they are and we have flag people and uh standing by at both entrance and exit as well as flag people any time a construction vehicle leaves the construction site so um we've got a number of individuals up there responsible for the safety counselor um two always stops were added up on Oldstrom to accommodate the traffic coming up the hill yeah yeah so CNS engineers produced a vehicular pedestrian traffic plan which was reviewed by city engineering office before being put into place Erica what point do we see the final plan to see how the fees are gonna the fees are going to be incremented or not or what's gonna happen.

Sure I I think that um right now there was the initial submission that did uh show and contemplate the site work that was anticipated I know that what I think Mirza just to build on what he was sharing there is the piece where also the the the project undergoes inspection so we do have site inspectors that are coming out there's the enforcement piece that's where the the refundable piece of this comes into play so we we then compare that to the submission that was made to the city for the site plan.

If there are changes or if the project ultimately that there's a change in scope or something that was unanticipated that is something as well that we look at overall that site plan all of that drives the final calculation and ultimately the final project near completion in terms of if there's any modifications to that fee schedule.

So we have the preliminary one and that was the information that we can share um in terms of how how it was looked at um from the the way the current fee schedule is structured.

So did did you and I may have not understood this correctly did you say before that the fees the amount of the fees could be altered for some kind of whatever reason what what do we what's the consideration yep that we so it's um there are there's times where it's like a unit pricing so for example it's some of it's based on linear feet or some of it's based on square footage.

So there is a methodology that that outlines this and that's information we can really share certainly share with you.

I just for simplicity's sake I'll give the example if you have a hundred feet of sidewalk um that is ultimately going to be um disturbed or closed or or destroyed you're measuring the linear amount of feet that's anticipated.

There's times where there may be a modification of that so instead of a hundred feet it may be eighty and so ultimately what you may do is that that will change that unit pricing calculation and so that that's just one of the things we have the initial anticipation and that's the the fee schedule that's broken out.

If something changes or again we're on site and we inspect and there's a difference from the original distance or fee or plan or things like that you can change that that unit pricing.

So I was looking at a mirror to make sure that was a an accurate depiction.

But it is that it shows here's the amount of feet, or here's the square footage, here's the unit pricing, and then that's what what derives.

It can, yes.

And it really just depends on the way, and that's part of the inspections and looking at the project and how the site's being used.

I can just like to stay uh and related to the the road versus the overall right-of-the-unity is committed to replacing in this whole project area, the sidewalks, the curb line, mill and paving the milling and repaving the road as well.

So everything in the vicinities of these projects is going to be replaced as new by the time the project's completed.

Everything but our lost property taxes.

Just to double check some real numbers here.

So this project has a plus or minus 30,000 square feet scope at 150 to per square foot.

Am I reading that right?

There's 150 per square foot equals 200.

Yeah.

It's 30,000 square feet.

Scope of the project.

Yes.

Right.

Um, I just I just want to say that the 30,000, it looks like that's the square footage of from right of weight to right of weight, the whole block.

That's 30,000.

Uh when we estimate it uh, and right of way is from curb or it's from sidewalk.

It's past the sidewalk.

Past the sidewalk.

So I would say the exact number that's plus and minus probably.

That's what I'm getting at.

I mean, SU will probably let you know the exact numbers if you go from property line to profit, because they have the survey.

Okay.

Um, but it looks about right.

That's the 30,000 square feet that whole block.

Now the that's how you base the fee.

Okay.

So and at $500 per fee schedule, 200 per square feet, 52 assessed per 40 day, 14 day periods.

That's kind of what we're looking at in terms of scope.

If you calculate, yeah, if you calculate uh for two years, yes.

I'm just trying to figure out what formula we're working off of.

So we're talking about real numbers.

That's we're really talking about that's the formula for two years, um, five hundred dollars for four if you divide it by 14 day increments, you end up in time to by 30,000.

That's the number you whatever you have there.

I don't know what if you have a total, but it's I'm I'm getting uh six hundred thousand dollars essentially for each 90 day construction period.

I I don't know.

Something along those lines.

I have to get a calculator, but I was but I think I think what we can do is we can share.

I know I mentioned the 2.6 million and just what that methodology was, and and again, we can look there is because of the fact that it does have that unit pricing.

I think what we just have to verify is the numbers that are being used for the total area that's being utilized or impacted um for the project.

Okay.

I think a question that that's in my mind is um how much of city staff is um how much time are city staff spending up there between inspections and the other um employees that are up there, how much time are they up there, what are their salaries?

Let's figure out a breakdown of what it's costing the city to do our due diligence on this project too.

Um, because I don't want to see us losing money in wages and whatnot.

So um there's elements of that, some of which are harder to to really quantify depending on the number of hours.

But one piece I will say too, and and this has not yet been accumulated in terms of the total amount of of revenue or permit collected, um, is the the building plans are still under review.

So the central permit office also charges and has a fee as part of their plan review process.

That is one of the things that account for staff time that's being put into the project and examining those things.

So we have not, we're still in the process of reviewing those building permits.

Um, but one of the things that we can do is get a sense of what what approximately that number would look like.

I know review is still underway, so we haven't finished it.

It's about a million dollars, the building permit.

I'm sorry, say that again.

The building permit is about a million bucks for the two buildings.

And that that is a standard process that we take with every project.

And it but it's one of the ways that account for the fact city time and resources are being used as part of that that review.

Thank you.

I th I think related to that is um, you know, you mentioned million dollar permit fee.

Um are you getting what you need from the city in an expeditious manner?

And I'm glad you asked that because through this project, like for everyone from zoning to the engineering central permit office has been fantastic.

They we we got we were put on a very tight timeline.

We sat down at the very beginning with Jake and his folks and laid out a plan for how we could step through each of the different uh approvals necessary, and it it has all gone really well.

Thank you.

Glad to hear that.

So when do we get to see what we need so we can get these moving from this direction?

So I know that there's information we've talked about today that what we'll do is I I will compile it from a few colleagues as well.

But I'll I'll be happy to share the information right now, which was a combination of um fees around revenue collected so far.

Um, a breakdown of some of the permits that have been involved in in the project.

Right, right.

Yes, and what I can do is per project as well.

Just understanding that there is there is a a quite a bit of construction taking place.

So but this is the one particularly that involves the road closure and um the one again that I think is the most unique situation.

What we'll do is we'll share that information.

Um we also have again the methodology around the per unit cost uh with the fee schedule.

And so again, we can provide the information that was used to derive the numbers that we talked about on our side.

Um trying to think if there's other information that we that we talked about.

I think what we'll do that in and counselor, we'll we'll look to do that and share that in the in the coming days.

Um and and the thing I would just say too again, a dialogue that we are more than happy to really continue and and continue to be focused on.

Um, the 90 days would permit to take us from the end of March through the end of June with the fully understanding that there is ultimately going to be a more extended period of closure uh that we would be coming back to the council for.

Okay.

We will wait for the any other one with questions.

We will wait for that information and get the uh the item rolling.

Okay.

Okay.

Sure.

I think I think it's it's just just as we establish the culture here of making sure that everyone move everything is moving expeditiously.

We want to make sure you move expeditiously, but give give us what we have asked, and we should be good.

Sure.

Uh and and counselor really appreciate the time from you and from everyone here at the table.

I, you know, I would say that uh road closures is not something we take lately.

It was something you know, I think it when we had looked at it with the project team, um, and I there was a reference made to some of the incident that had taken place before where there was an unattended loss of life around when there's a high amount of construction and just what that means for pedestrians and for drivers.

So safety, I think has been of the utmost importance.

I think we also have been again looking at and focused on the fact of um construction and development that this is certainly good things to be happening within our city.

I think that it was one of the things that we I really do believe we made a step in the right direction with the fee schedule that we developed when there are things that were unanticipated or unintended with this unique scenario, because there's not any changes that are being there's not anything related to the other two projects um that have caused this sort of like can we take a step back and be thoughtful around the impact of this?

It really is this particular project.

The other ones, the fee schedules are there, the project teams are abiding by those fee schedules.

It really is the Comstock related project.

When I I will say, in my time with the city, it's unique to have two construction sites and two buildings being built on either side of a street.

And part of the reason why is we want to make sure there is not a tragedy like what happened last year around anyone being impacted because of the fact that they may be attempting to walk through an area where there's active construction sites.

And so what's happening right now is you have two sites across the street from each other, actively that construction equipment, because they're both both buildings are being constructed by the project team here in Hanor Hoy, they are crossing Comstock, is it fair to say dozens of times a day?

So I think that it's just it there is continuously.

Yeah, whether it's concrete trucks being delivered, uh tractor trailers with light gauge wall panels, um, concrete pumps.

It's uh it's essentially a uh flurry of activity daily.

And the cranes, both cranes cross over the street numerous times a day.

Can I can I ask a quick question just about the construction?

Neither of these projects are going to be energy independent, correct?

Um they're provided by uh through national grid.

Yeah, powerful national good.

So you're not going for any sort of lead standards with this?

We're going for we are optimizing their lowest energy use index possible for the construction.

So they are high energy heat pump buildings.

And clarification, Eric, the the two people who were hit by the dump truck last year, or the two dump truck incidents and the trolley incident, I think they're the most recent loss of life on the SU campus.

I don't believe those were construction related, right?

Those were just normal course of traffic.

So my my understanding is that there is a separate from the projects taking place here, but there is a uh residential housing development taking place further down University Ev.

My my recollection of this is that it was uh a construction vehicle related to that project that was involved in the um in the it was two students, I believe, that was part of one incident, and I believe it was construction attributed to that project.

Thank you for clarifying.

Yes, absolutely.

So that's what I was gonna point to that um although you have precautions in place around the construction site.

I think that anyone who's doing any type of um construction work travel in the complete area, probably a one mile square.

Um, they need to be highly um attentive to pedestrians because apparently we was told that because the vehicles sit so high that I don't know how you missed two people, but um that was you know part of the reason.

And a lot of these are kids.

They're like, you know, just out of high school per se, and you know, learning a new city themselves.

So I think that it's not just the direct area, but it needs to be a broader area that is identified as um cautious.

It's I think Ostrom is a good example of this, and and counselor, to your point.

Um, so Syracuse Police, when we talk about that liability waiver and ultimately the the liability waivers, the the vehicle that could allow a road closure to take place.

Syracuse police and Syracuse Fire are departments that provide comments and review.

One of the pieces of feedback was Ostrom right now.

You have cars, and because you have topography up there, you you're going up on Ostrom, cars do tend to speed there.

So those four-way stops uh were implemented as part of this work.

Those did not exist on Ostrom before.

It was part of the reason why to help slow down, and given that between Thornton Park and the campus, you do have a lot of people crossing and and sometimes crossing in areas they're not supposed to.

So part of the reason why that those recommended, I think it was two four-way stops, I believe that was implemented.

That was based on SPD circuit's police recommendation, and that was designed to help improve safety uh in light of the in light of the project.

For the record, I've heard a lot of people like those being there.

Independent of the construction understood.

Could I ask another question?

Um, what is the total project cost for a these areas?

Roughly 253 million are cost construction plus soft costs over and above that.

Is that the individual projects or the combined?

Two combined.

So all three residence hall projects total about uh $360 million in construction value.

We're probably going to employ between 600 and 700 people on the site over the course of the construction project.

I think we are all very grateful and appreciative to Hainer Hoyt for the great work that you do.

I would like you to use more vibrant colors, but otherwise I think that your construction is a very important thing.

Unfortunately, I don't pick the colors.

You guys are very active.

You are you are adding to the buildings in our area.

We see you as an employer, and welcome that that um we are making sure that we do the right thing in terms of the city permitting processes, making sure that we are following the rules that we have set in place, which is fair for everybody.

Any other questions?

Well, that will conclude our meeting.

Thank you, Eric.

Thank you to both of you.

Thank you, Councillors.

Uh that will be it for us.

Thank you.