So good afternoon, everybody.

Thank you for joining us in our study session.

Um we're gonna start let me see where we start here.

Uh in resolutions.

Okay.

Um and then counselor.

I have it.

And it's asked in the increased municipalities along with President.

So if there's anybody questions?

Yes, please.

Oh, Ron.

Run.

Run, show.

Thank you.

Counselor Majuk.

Oh, it's me?

Yes.

That was that quick.

Rashida?

So thank you, Madam President.

I have item 11 to 23.

Who's taking the uh first item?

Good afternoon, Council.

Neil Burke BPW.

Item number 11 is uh a revision to the traffic code to allow two-way traffic on a select number of currently one-way streets in the campus west area.

So I I had I mean, I I want to thank all of you for for providing the study for this.

And but I I had a couple of concerns uh considering that the the streets that we want to turn to two ways are predominantly around busy areas such as um residential hall for students and and you know often time we know we don't look at college students as quote unquote kids, but the there's a lot of them that are kids.

Yeah, you know, and and considering the the traffic, the hospital is right there, the VA and you know, all the dormitories.

It's just it's it's a concern for me to see that we are converting these streets into two ways in which you know it it's it it does yield more vehicular access to those spaces and then the kids and student that we've changed the word the students are maneuvering around those areas.

So could somebody just calm my nerve down a little bit by certainly and I believe our uh friends from SU were here.

I just want to clarify that this didn't come out of DPW, this was a request of Syracuse University that came to us.

Sumil, what is the intention of looking at a kind of a like a larger level?

Why do we have one waves at all?

One ways were very popular many decades ago when everything was intended to be.

What have what have we learned in the meantime?

We've learned that you know, one ways have a place.

Uh Syracuse, like many cities overdid them.

And you've seen some projects in the past, like a Clinton Street, where we've taken a hard look and said, I think true way can serve us better here, and we did the engineering studies behind that.

Um as for these streets, these are kind of unique.

Um they're kind of tucked away, they serve a specific purpose, especially as it relates to large events, and again, um from a network standpoint as a whole, these changes I don't believe will have a significant impact on our operations.

Um and again, they were handed this was requested of us and uh DPW was tasked with just reviewing the traffic study.

Does it make sense?

Does it work?

And we agree that it does, but again, I'll defer to my police counterparts.

What are were they involved in this at all?

They were involved in the original discussions, um, but again, I I wasn't brokering those.

Um so if the SU um individuals were going to speak on it, can you just also speak to how this plays into the um roundabout with the DOT and that's sure that was a matter in I believe looked at in the traffic study as well as broached with nine stop, but I'll defer to my uh counterparts from SU to answer any specifics.

Hello, Jennifer Bibe.

I'm associate director for planning with Syracuse University Campus Planning Office, and thank you for having our item on the agenda.

I'm going to turn to our transportation engineer whom we hired to do the traffic study that was included in your packet to respond to the specific questions about uh safety concerns regarding two-way versus one-way.

But before and she's the pro uh traffic engineer, but I thought it would be helpful to add a little bit of background information how this came about.

And uh essentially the thinking was that with the I-81 work and with Fineview and Renwick already closed, and the proposed business loop at Van Buren, um, coupled with the fact that the original reason for those streets having been changed from two-way to one-way no longer exists.

Essentially, those streets were designed and built and operated as two-way, and then we're switched to one way in 1979 to facilitate the dome shuttle traffic for that area west of campus.

That route changed quite a long time ago, and the uh dome shuttle brings um people to a different part of campus.

So all of these things converging, the uh Fine View and Renwick being closed, the emerging change with the business loop and the fact that the shuttle that services the dome no longer goes in that area seem to make everyone think these should really be returned to two-way so that it will improve the traffic flow overall.

And um Amy will explain how two-way traffic actually is safer for pedestrians.

Um but also want to add that this actually had a trial run of sorts because it has operated as such where these streets are two-way for the dome events of this past year.

And by all accounts, it's worked extremely well.

And so my understanding, as Neil can elaborate on, is that the relevant city departments, police and fire have been in favor of this.

So let me turn it to Amy who has the more technical explanation about the safety of two-way traffic.

That was just Jennifer.

My name is Amy Dake.

I'm the senior managing transportation engineer with Passarow Associates, and we performed the study on behalf of Syracuse.

So I understand there's some concerns with converting one-way streets to two-way, particularly for pedestrians.

What happens when you have a one-way street, especially with two lanes of travel moving in the same direction, you tend to get higher speeds than when you have two-way streets with a single lane in each direction.

Additionally, it can be confusing for pedestrians when they're looking to cross because if they don't realize it's a one-way street, then they're not looking in the correct direction potentially for traffic.

The other main concern I have with a one-way street, particularly stadium place, at least in one location, we have a mid-block pedestrian crossing.

So in New York State, we've got a law that says stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk, right?

So if you have a pedestrian on one side of the street waiting to cross, and a vehicle stops in the curb lane to let that pedestrian cross, and they start out.

If a vehicle in the other lane coming in the same direction doesn't see that pedestrian crossing, you have a potential potential for a collision.

The other thing is that's important to note is that cyclists, bicyclists, tend to like two-way streets much better than one-way streets.

It's safer for them.

They can travel in both directions.

And in general, two-way streets provide for better circulation.

It's not as confusing for motorists.

And in this area where you've got motorists coming to park for events at the dome, they may not be a regular driver in this area.

So it can be very confusing, and you end up going in circles looking for where you're supposed to go.

How do you address congestion then?

Congestion?

Yeah.

Well, in this particular area, congestion really isn't a huge concern because it's such an isolated pocket on the on the west campus of Syracuse.

You've got Van Buren and Irving Avenue, which carry quite a bit of traffic.

It's in the five to six thousand vehicle per day range.

But on the actual side streets, Stadium Place, Standard Avenue, those volumes are much, much lower.

And this could possibly help with the traffic flow door and games because you always have that Van Buren lineup going up the hill.

Um, so if they're able to take one of those one current one-way streets, it'll it would probably help.

And I'd also think it where there are student dormitories to your left, there's just parking lots to the right.

So it's probably not as much of an issue for um students crossing, you know, the potential for any.

It's also better for emergency service providers because they can get to wherever they need to get to without having to need to deal with a one-way street situation.

And also, you know, given that we have dormitories in this area, you've got your DoorDash, Amazon delivery drivers who also get confused, and it's easier for them.

So, how I don't know if this question is for you or Neil, how much of a configuration do we will this take, Neil, in term of timing and planning?

Um well, I can let Neil speak to that.

I will say that our study was very specific in what needs to be done to change the streets as far as pavement markings and signage.

Okay.

Before we release that to Neil, can I ask one more question?

Sure.

What are the incidences of collisions right now in the one-way street area, particularly with pedestrians?

We didn't, our study did not look at actual crash data at this point.

Um, so I can't answer that specific question.

Your study's very general.

I mean, the point about out-of-town drivers is precise.

And I understand that it would allow emergency vehicle access easier because again, everyone can go in the direction that they want to.

Um it would have it would help me to know that you looked at our vision zero and the statistics that go along with this, particularly because if we're if we do have pedestrian crossing in the middle of stadium place, two-way traffic doesn't necessarily address that since we're not talking about adding another controlled intersection or a crosswalk there, correct?

That crosswalk already exists.

So right now you've got a crosswalk across a one-way street that has two lanes of traffic in the same direction.

But it's not controlled.

There's no light, there's no correct.

There is um, I believe there's a uh rapid flashing beacon for the crossing.

I had a question about comstock gav.

It's two-way, but when you go down further, it's one way.

Are we are you looking to make that a two-way?

No, this is very specific to the West Campus area.

So we're only looking at the sections of Standard Street and Stadium Place that are one way.

And those are the only one-way roadway sections in that west campus area.

Everything else is two-way right now.

So counselor Enron right uh point, it's it, you know, as as it stands and as you do the configuration, because when I saw it that there's sign ex stop signs.

But that's that's that's it.

But in terms of if they're going to be maybe a traffic light or any anything like that, or is it there's no changes in traffic control other than um accommodating the change to two-way.

And the the assumption is that that because you are going to make it two ways that the traffic is going to reduce more than it is.

I don't think we'll reduce volumes, but we'll reduce speeds on the roads that are currently one way.

So what about the value?

Do you think because it's two-way, there's a potential that the volume could go up?

Not in this area.

I mean, there's no reason to come to this area unless you're parking in this area.

And if you're parking in this area, you're already coming to this area.

So it's just gonna change potentially the direction of travel and which roadways you use.

My theory is that we because with I-81 construction with two ways is going to attract traffic for deterrent purposes that people are uh right, people are gonna see two ways, so let me cut through, you know, me get through here.

But really, the only place to go in this area would be to go to the environmental science and forestry campus.

It's it's kind of a uh landlocked area, if you will.

Um you're not cutting through to get anywhere else.

You you're really gonna stay on Van Buren.

Um I guess my Neil Um to Council Union Ride touched on it, the vision zero vision.

Uh where where is this plan, this changes with that?

Because I know we are pretty heavy on that.

How does this complement that?

And we're gonna talk about vision zero later too.

So that's a great great segue.

Um this area was not identified in the high injury network, so this wasn't an area of high crashes or high volumes.

Um if that's something you'd like to be evaluated, well that can be put back on the uh the applicant.

I'm just I'm more worried about the pedestrian traffic because again, in addition to people driving there to park, people are walking to their parked spaces.

There's a lot of increased pedestrian traffic around game days and things of that nature, regardless of the one-way or two-way situation.

In addition to the dorms, right?

Yeah.

You guys wander around back campus there, Arian?

No?

I do.

I go to many games, and regardless of which direction the traffic is in, it's gonna be people walking.

So I don't I think like I said, going up that hill, there's always congested traffic because two of those streets are one-ways.

So I think it would it would it would be a little bit better.

Um, but you know, if they want to look into it further.

Yeah, I got I got my my other last question here, and we gotta we gotta move on.

Um we'll talk about this later.

My other question is the cost with with the side the change of signage and and everything else that needs to go in into it is as you taking care of it, or are we taking care of it as a city?

My understanding is that uh city cost, it's relatively minor for a few signs and some striping.

But again, I don't want to misconstrue this as something that I uh broker.

We like to know the the the the cost of it, basically.

The university can absorb the cost for the signage and also um somehow reimburse DPW for the restriping work.

It means changing a street sign, several, I believe, and doing some restriping.

Because again, the streets were designed and were had always been used as two-way traffic.

Um and they were converted to one way.

So this is converting them back to what they were originally built for.

There isn't road work, et cetera, involved with it.

And we also have to remember um outside of the future um roundabout.

Um I can only speak to what's happening currently, but when there are games, there's police presence for directing traffic.

So we do have that extra added um security measure.

Um, but that's only today.

I don't know what happens when the roundabout comes.

That point also, those streets are currently used as two-way streets during dome events, and they're just you know converted temporarily during events.

So we're just asking that those streets would be converted back permanently.

Okay, anything else item 12.

That's our counselors, budget, so uh and fordock, first deputy commissioner of DPW, and it's 12 and 13.

And so this is four million dollars for a new salt barn at DPW.

So any questions about why or our existing salt barn?

So um we discussed this, I believe last year or the year before.

Um it may have come up before because Jeremy was trying to do it previously, uh, and it's taken a little while to get you know the engineering aspect done.

Okay, and also because if you wait too long, I can't do it.

I can't tear down without knowing in the same year I can get a new one up, because we uh use a little bit of salt here.

So we we do need a big old salt salt barn.

So we don't want to go into November with no salt barn.

That would be uh a calamity that we don't want to face.

So were we leasing another space?

Um so this is we have to tear down the existing one and redo the plumbing, the electric, the groundwork, and put up a bigger one in the same location.

No, but I'm saying weren't we currently releasing another space near state field?

And that is a great point, and that's gonna come in very useful to us because we're trying to empty ours right now, and so we're using that one on Van Ren is New York States, and so we're gonna fill that up with salt just in case there's another storm.

I know, I know.

It already happened earlier this week, so we want to make sure we have enough if there's um a little more of snow, and um, but we need to clean out that barn and make sure we are ready for go time to tear it down.

It's chips money, right?

Ann?

That is chips, 100% chips reimbursed.

Well, yeah.

Wait a minute, just to go on by Jenna emailed this morning said this one was not no, it was the uh actually the one that she said is not is 17 I mean it's not in there is 17 of the 100.

Is the same so which one it says reimbursed through New York State DOT programs, and she told me that uh 16 and 17 is not reimbursed through near seat DOT programs that it is 12 and 13 is reimbursed via chips.

Okay.

All right, so then we'll come back to that in a minute.

Yeah, we'll get there.

Yeah, we'll get there.

What's the time frame for for this?

ASAP.

So everything's uh Ian is here and he could break down like the bidding and um you know how that's going.

Um but we have to get a general contractor, and then they'll have their subs, and it we have to work on tearing it down first, which might be the fastest part, and then um the electric, the plumbing, the site work, and so I would like it done by October 1st.

Um, but projects are what they are, so this is gonna be RFB and all of the process.

I believe Anne's already put it out, right?

No.

Do you want to give an update on that?

Or you have to get this approved to put it out.

Is that how that works?

Yeah, I gotta get the bond approved.

Ian Brown with the engineering department working on this project for the last two years.

Um we have all the bid documents ready to go.

We have um yeah, we're ready to go through the purchase portal on gov.

We wanted to make sure this was secure before we put it out.

So we have a substantial completion date of October 15th for this project, so that we don't interrupt uh snow operations.

And it actually is in fact two buildings.

We'll be putting up two buildings in the existing space, one for treated salt and one for untreated salt, which we have not had the capacity for.

So we have we'll we'll have salt that can work under 20 degrees, which is awesome, which is what we really need for DPW.

So any other questions.

Thank you.

14 and 15 all right.

14 and 15 is DPW road reconstruction equipment, and I will let uh Jeff Fergola uh fleet manager come up and speak to that.

Hello, counselors.

Uh Jeff Ragola, fleet director for the city.

Um so 14 and 15 is for the authorization and intuit issuance for the uh road recon equipment capital improvement.

Uh those purchases will be reimbursable through the CHIPS program.

Um questions on any of the equipment on vehicles.

I'm sorry, all of it reimbursable.

Yes, okay 100%.

Okay.

Okay.

That's awesome.

All right.

Yeah.

Thank you.

16 and 17.

And that's where we were.

Yep.

And uh that's also me.

Uh 16 and 17 is the DPW's normal capital equipment and vehicles plan.

Um, those ones are not reimbursable through chips, but um, are on the uh normal schedule of equipment replacement and vehicle replacement.

We did you guys my ball did you put the list of what reason why they are not uh the chip program is very specific to what equipment can be um reimbursed, they have to be used for specific uh reasons, and these ones are they fall outside of the reasoning for the DOT.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Thank you.

Thank you.

18 Good afternoon, counselors.

Mary Robison, city engineer.

Uh let's see.

18 is um entering into an agreement with Collier's engineering and design for the inner harbor area sidewalk improvement project.

This is a tip project, um, but it's only 80% reimbursable because it's for pedestrians only, and they only fund Marchicelli for vehicular um roads.

Um so the inner harbor sidewalk will get new uh new sidewalks on Van Rensselaer between Hiawatha and West Kirkpatrick Street, and along West Kirkpatrick Street from Gettys and Solar Street and adding new sidewalks across the West Kirkpatrick Street Bridge, which currently do not exist.

There's like a shoulder along the bridge, but not a dedicated sidewalk.

No, right now we're replacing the expansion joints on the bridge that have failed.

Yep.

So no, this is just a brand new um tip project, so we're just starting design upon approval and execution of this agreement.

People can walk to see the new dolphins.

Yes.

Named by Syracuse City School District Children.

Any questions?

Okay, 19 is requesting an agreement with Barton and Lajudis for preliminary design for the West Side Trail Project.

This is another new TIP project.

Um funding is uh or agreements not to exceed 386,000 dollars again.

It this is 80 percent federally funded.

Um and this West Side Trail is along West Fayette Street, starting at Lightbart Park near Seneca Street, going west um over the abandoned railroad bridge over Geddis Street, and then going down um to Magnolia Street.

So does it restore under that bridge, Mary?

That messy one that that messy Fayette Street Bridge past the gear factories, yes, that's full restoration.

Okay.

Um start.

When will the work start?

Yeah.

Um well we'll just the project hasn't even been initiated.

We have to execute this, get approval and execute this agreement.

Um probably in about two years.

Well, two years, okay, okay.

That's a rough estimate.

Okay.

Now just wondering because I know there's an organization that um has started doing some like festival over there.

I just didn't know if that would impact what they're doing um currently.

But if not, then they'll have t enough time to revamp it.

Yeah.

Any questions on that?

No, but I I would like to maybe um uh put a committee meeting together to just review all our trails, the trails that have been completed, they trail that are in the in the works.

They just comprehensively understand where everything is.

Um would I guess where everything is and where everything is planned to be?

Yes.

We have the because we have the Creekwalk phase three project underway also, and um I know parks has other things in the works.

So we could do a joint meeting with parks and engineering.

I would say that.

Yeah, that would that would be great.

And if you can include in that, um since Neil is here as well, um the uh cold brook plan or study that was done.

I do believe revisiting that.

There were some things that I believe the neighbors in that area did want, and some that they didn't.

So um right now they feel like they have just been shut out and for that trail, prepared trail.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, so I'll uh we would figure that out.

Okay, and come together and have that meeting.

Sounds like a good idea.

Yeah.

Um 20, or if that's anyone who has question on the 90.

20, Mary.

Thank you.

Um, this is really Neil's, but I know that we bid this project.

Uh this is a very small tip project, and the bids came in higher than our allocated budget.

So we're asking to increase the construction phase by 125,000 for a total of 475,000 dollars.

Um, 280,000 would be federal and 195 would be local.

If you have details, uh I'm gonna defer to Neil.

Okay.

Um we're on Lower Dice Street.

We're the Low Dye Street project.

This is real good afternoon, council again, Neil Burke, DPW.

This is mostly focused on the area around Erie Boulevard, so the southern portion of Low Dye Street.

So it's going to south of James Street.

Yep.

Lowered Ice Street.

Is it going all the way across to North Salina Street?

No.

So this portion is just from around James Street to Erie Boulevard.

Wait a minute.

Okay.

Okay.

So I'm looking at the Lower Ice Creek connector, and I assume it was lowered ice cream.

Yep.

It unfortunately again it Mary alluded to is kind of a small tip project.

Um we'd love if we can get enough funds to do all of it.

Um pursue it in the future too.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you, Neil.

Um item 21.

This is um requesting a small increase to our agreement with CNS engineers in the amount of 29,000 for the preliminary design phase of the James Street Improvement Project, which is from South Salina to Grant Boulevard.

Um we've expanded the work um on this project.

You'll be hearing more about it.

We're um in preliminary design, but we're gonna have a public meeting um to go over the whole scope of project.

So this is just a very small increase, and we have the tip funding available.

Is this 2027 work too?

You think or 2028?

Uh probably 28 starting.

Mary, outside of this, do you have any information on the um till Av project?

I believe it might have been county, um, either county or DOT, but it was um TILAV from the um county line to I think it was uh Grant Boulevard.

It didn't go to James Street.

The Grant and Teal uh intersection.

They had all those public meetings that were Yeah, I know like that Shop City intersection is they are going to do that work as part of their project.

Um we did have a meeting with them a couple months ago um and talked about the improvements within the city.

I think they're still in preliminary design and trying to get design approval.

But are are you asking like when they're gonna start location?

What for that specific location?

Well, it'll be done all as one project and then include that small city section.

Okay, because that's what I was wondering.

Why didn't extend um at least up going towards Hinnegar High School because there's a lot of trouble?

I don't have the specifics with me today, but we have another TIP project for um more teal within the city in the out years.

It's grant to court, but we had uh they weren't even gonna do that intersection in the first bid, but then they decided to go further right to the city line.

But they're not going any further.

Okay.

Well, can you make sure that I'm involved when you have additional meetings on that because you know my sister lived over there and I know a lot of stuff?

I can let you know when the city project is in scheduled and what the pr uh project limits are.

Okay, because my concern is that at James Until but until when you come through the light, there's a small, like probably less than uh hundred or two hundred feet of a lane that stops abruptly.

There's so many accidents right there.

Uh you can ask um what's the name with the uh lights?

Um Ken, how many times they had to replace the light post right at that section because every time they put it up, it gets hit again.

So my concern is like that should have been extended to correct some stuff that's going on right there.

That's a vision zero intersection, actually.

Oh, okay.

Right now, which is on on our agenda a little later on.

But we need to we need to have another meeting because we don't know a lot of the next item.

Uh yep, next item.

Ready?

Uh this is requesting to submit an application and potentially answering agreement to replace the Chafi Ev pedestrian bridge um near Clary, Meacham.

Um we applied for it in 24.

Unfortunately didn't get it, so we're reapplying this year.

Um and this is connected to the Creek Walk Phase Three project.

Um, but we don't have enough creek walk funds to do this bridge um as we currently envision the budget to be with the funding that we have.

So we're reapplying this year, and hopefully we can be successful this time.

Mary, would it have helped if you had um signatures of like supporting um residents in that area?

Uh we did submit letter from the residents.

Um is uh requesting a res uh resolution to adopt the 2025 county onadaka county hazard mitigation plan.

So this is something we do every few years.

This um plan, I provided the link on the letter, but I can also send you the city chapter of the plan.

But this plan addresses um all our hazards, flooding, harmful algal bloom, sewers, severe weather, um, that type of thing.

Emergency operation plan even includes um maintaining our tree population.

So the purpose of one of the purposes of having this plan is so that we can also apply for um grants.

Um and the other major purpose is we need to be have an executed plan in order to qualify for our um FEMA flood insurance discount, which is currently 15%.

Um this provides a significant points.

We would our percent discount would drop, which we just went through that recertification process.

Um Mary, in that same vein, let me ask you a question.

Since we moved all of those different neighborhoods into the flood zone, how frequently have they flooded?

Do we have that information?

I don't think that we've had an incident of subs a substantial incident that I'm aware of.

Okay, but don't jinx me.

I'm I'm not trying to jinx you, but it was just like certain parts of the city that had never flooded before were added into the flood zone, and now we're saying that they haven't really flooded.

So I'm just you know the age of climate change, hundred year floods are now pretty common.

Sometimes Mary just said, we haven't had them, and I think we've added them into the flood zones probably how many years ago on the plus side to factor cost.

Now not helping out local municipalities when we flood.

So I don't think it's harmful to sign this, but I don't think it's harmful to sign this, but I'm just concerned about the people that had to buy flood insurance.

I'm not talking about this.

I'm talking about the flood insurance that these folks had to buy.

Yeah.

You know, we fought that.

I know we did.

I need I need any next.

Yeah.

Any other questions?

Thank you, Mary.

Thank you.

Would you like me to send you the city annex?

I would like to remember.

You would like it?

Okay.

Thank you.

You ready?

I'll say.

Counselor Ravenick.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have items 24, 25, 26, and 27.

Parks Commissioner.

First item is from the Rose Society.

Good afternoon, all Saisha Bird, Commissioner of Parks and Recs.

24 is to accept a donation.

Well, it's two plaques valued at $2,000 for the Mills Rose Garden so that visitors could identify the roses.

No questions.

25 is to authorize, it's an authorization to standardize coat and code compliant, the waterfront railings around the inner harbor.

And so the goal is to uniform and make those replace and make those um railings uniform and safe so that kids can't slip through.

We have um two other items connected to this.

I was wondering if you would all be open to discuss that now, or do you want me to wait to the end?

Um what are you gonna do?

I'm I'm gonna give you I mean it's not in the agenda.

Yeah, so we don't have them on the right.

No, they're connected in the way they're all connected to inner harbor.

I'm sorry, say say that one more.

It's all connected to the inner harbor project.

They're in the boat.

Oh yeah, they're at the end.

Oh, it's in the waiver.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So what we talked about.

Yes, that's gonna be a good idea.

Yeah, come on.

I'm gonna just hand these out.

These are slides um that we'll go through just to describe the project.

Um, can I just uh ask while Josh is making his way up?

The um I don't know what that is, like um it's not a pavilion, is it a pavilion?

The amphitheater the amphitheater, the stage at the inner harbor?

The wood can it's not do we not stay in that but it's not part of this pro this actual project at the time, but we do have a plan.

Yeah, okay.

But I think counselor would like to see it look a little nicer in the option.

I don't know if we were replacing that at some point or we're gonna use some wood filler and some boardwalk or you need the entertainment space.

So for now we will work with our trades department to make sure that it's safe and stained and looks better, but at the moment, this project does not include the amphitheater.

Okay, so sorry, I can't help myself.

So basically the whole thing needs to be replaced every single year before the festival in the park.

They go through and fix all the problems with it.

Yeah, but at the end of the day, the whole thing, the whole deck needs to be replaced.

Yep.

That was fast on the other side, so it's not here.

Do you want me to do 54?

It's still in.

So I did invite Josh Wilcox off um landscape architect four parks.

54 is authorized to authorize the insurance.

It's uh excuse me, a bond ordinance for the sell and bond.

Um for 2526 progress park trail side recreation capital improvement project, and the total amount of 500,000.

And then 55 is to amend the ordinance and authorize 2425 progress park trail side recreational capital improvement project.

Um, to construct a playground at the inner harbor, along with a semi-permanent and converted shipping container.

We're not I'm gonna keep skipping that part.

Um excuse me, shipping container, rental stand for adaptive and inclusive recreational equipment, featuring the ADA compliance pathways, inclusive play equipment, seating.

This would be our first all-inclusive play playground.

Um Commissioner, question for you.

Did I hear you mention earlier that you were gonna replace some of the things so the kids couldn't get through there?

Because that's my concern.

All the railings around the all the railings around every part of the inner harbor will be replaced.

You want to come and explain though.

Sorry, on 55, we're just amending to add the additional.

Okay.

I guess I should.

I don't know if you want me to just I'll have Josh through the next one.

Uh items 5657 are the bond ordinance authorizing and uh for the bond for the railings improvement project at three million dollars.

This is a comprehensive uh replacement and addition of all new railings at the inner harbor.

Right now, in the packet, you could see that the piers do not have any railings whatsoever, so we are unable to permit that space.

We're unable to actually allow festivals or any events on that.

Um this plan allows us to create new um accessibility options so people of all abilities could use Inner Harbor.

Uh it replaces the pedestrian bridge, so that we're not the structure of it, but all the wood, uh the rotted wood and plywood areas will get replaced.

Um and it also allows us to create uh again a permittable space for in 2027.

There's some major um I'll so Clinton Square will not be in use in 2027.

Um the 81 project will kind of take over that area.

We will not be able to run festivals like we are used to.

So we need a space.

We need to we need a space to continue the festivals.

Um, and this could be our space.

So our hope is that we move some of those festivals for that year to um Progress Parker or Inner Harbor.

It's the only space we have big enough to hold big festivals like this.

What's the capacity, projected capacity of that it can hold?

I don't have that answer.

Uh Josh may according to the second No Kings protest, I think it was like 12 million, right?

Right.

There was lots of so we have I mean I can speak to what we we had 27,000 at Pride last year in the Inner Harbor.

So and I we talked about this in leadership, so I think it's good that we have this discussion now because if we're gonna lose Clinton Square in June, we're talking just in June alone, you know, Taste of Syracuse if they come back, Crawfish Pride, Juneteenth.

And we the city's got to support them because they're for them to move those festivals from Clinton Square to Inner Harbor.

I you know, talked to the deputy mayor this morning, and we we all did in leadership and said we've got to make sure that we're accommodating people that walk to those festivals in Clinton Square to get them to the Inner Harbor.

Um as we've discovered recently, the only place big enough to hold those festivals, other than a strange parking lot somewhere um on city property.

The Inner Harbor is the only other place that's big enough to accommodate what to what President Hudson or Councillor Hussen said, the railings.

I mean, it's not safe down there.

Like we take care of the amphitheater part of it every year to make it safe, but if you take kids down those piers, which we own again, it's you get we gotta do those railings.

There's some examples in there of the current conditions.

Yeah, it's pretty.

Right now, the code of compliance is pretty off.

They were built 25 years ago.

Um, so you know, things have changed since then.

And what we would do is with the standardization of the new railing, would implement a full uh seaworthy waterfront railing that is used throughout the country and other waterfront areas.

Um this is what the current code says it allows for kids can't stick their you know bodies through the railings and fall in the water, unlike right now, which are just wires.

Yes.

Thank you for allowing us to introduce that all together.

Thank you for decent.

Um I have a couple more.

So we are back to 26.

So 26 is an agreement with the Onadaga County Soil and Water Conservation to treat 200 hemlock trees in a variety of locations around the city.

27 is the application and agreement um to the New York State New York, excuse me, New York State Department of Parks, Recs, and Historic Preservation and the amount of 20,000 for the Connect Kids to um field trip grant program, they do provide transportation, but they give um our youth the opportunity to get you know, not just exploring the city, but get outside the city.

Um, and they focus on historic sites and forestry and fishing um and outdoor recreation.

Commission, I just have a quick question, go back to 26.

Is there any health risk um with that when they're treating those hemlock trees?

No.

There's no health risks to the public.

Are they spraying them with something or I can get more clarification, but I know whatever they use to get to treat them is not um harmful to a person.

Okay.

I just was wondering.

But I'll keep you in the city if they we need to just warn them, you know.

Most of these are in natural areas, the wooded areas that they're starting to clean up.

Okay.

It's done every year.

And they put a like flag down.

Okay.

That's what I was wondering.

Thank you.

Can I just ask one question?

We have two items that are missing that we submitted letters for.

Could I talk to you after you might want to say it?

What was they?

One was for um public art, 35,000.

I never got it.

No, okay.

Yeah.

And if it's okay, um you can put it on the waiver.

Just talk to um and we had for Monday.

That one in it was like part signage.

Yeah, never mind.

So we'll put it back on.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

That's all for my items.

Oh, sorry.

Counselor Hudson.

Thank you.

Item 28.

Good afternoon, counselors.

Uh the item before you is related to our uh website hosting platform, the management platform that's used to update our Swire.gov site.

Um, it's more of a procedural uh item in the sense that if you look the date for it is from March 30th until June 30th of this year.

This is in an effort to co-term our uh current uh software contracts, and so we've worked with the um the clerk on multiple occasions to align these with the fiscal year.

That way uh it makes them much more straightforward both for budgeting and operational uh you know uh financial uh planning.

So we only need a few months of these.

I mean uh no, so it and essentially we'll be back uh July 1st with uh you know to be able to then uh co-term that accordingly and get the yes yeah July already thank you counselor Navy, thank you guys.

Thank you, man.

President I have items 29 and 30.

Good afternoon again, council Neil Burke, DPW.

Uh the items 29 and 30 are to authorize the CIP program for our uh vision zero work.

And this was intended to have a schedule A included with it.

I'm not sure if it made it, but we'll share that with you uh immediately after this.

Yeah, can you send it to us so I can make sure to log in it?

Absolutely.

Okay.

Any questions among my colleagues on this?

If not, thank you.

Thank you.

Counselor Moore.

Thank you, madam president.

I have items 31 through 40.

Uh good afternoon, counselors.

Uh Elton Davis, Deputy Chief Fire Department.

Uh item 31 is agreement with uh Brycer.

This is a code compliant cold compliance software in which we which we use it as a tool to for the submission of uh excuse me for the submission of uh reports that are required for sprinkler systems, fire alarms, things on along that line.

It's a uh three-year agreement, and it's there is no cost to the city.

Oh god.

You should have started off with that.

All right.

Questions?

Not really.

Thank you.

Counselor's uh first deputy chief Rich Trudell.

That is a tough act to follow.

Um so item number 32.

What we're looking to do here is amend our agreement um from uh um a 2025 ordinance with not an associates um to provide technical IT technical services to the Syracuse Police Department.

The original agreement was for 120,000.

We're asking to move that to 200,000.

Um basically not an associates is quarterbacking our IT move um at 1153.

Um and that touches everything from door locks to cameras to our um network.

Um, and uh that's our request.

No, not asking for additional funds.

We're gonna move within that account.

And um, this is uh just allowing them to move into the following year.

This is just through this year, yeah, through June of this year.

I know uh Dave ProAC and City IT have that RFP out for technical services that we have all uh that you discussed with him.

Yeah, we will be able to utilize that.

This is just to get us through that same time period that that um I know uh Dave asked.

That's all I wanted to make sure that we just put an RFP out after.

Gee, why did we wave the RFP?

Um again, there is an RFP out, and Dave can speak to this a little bit better than I can, but the RFP is out, it's just in the interim of that selection of the RFP using this firm, and I'll let Dave talked about that R.

So it was the one that already came out.

This is just I got it.

Yeah, so we're not waving the technical REP.

We're gonna select the process.

I'm speaking over you.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Can you tell us how the move is going?

Uh we started on Monday.

Uh fire is completely moved in um at this point on the sixth floor, and we're moving down uh floors from that.

Uh and um it's going along.

We uh expect to uh stay on schedule.

Didn't we have did we ever designate that community room during the process we talked about designating a community room in that building?

Did we ever do it?

A purposeful that uh no, there's no community room, but there is a number of rooms that that uh we can use for that, right?

We have three, for example, we have three training rooms on um the third floor that have partitions um and they're designed to be segmented out.

If we wanted to uh host a community event or something like that, that's a perfect room for that.

But we just didn't have a space to designate specifically for um a community room.

For example, our roll call room is gonna also uh serve as our media room um when we have media uh functions.

But there's I believe I know there is enough room for our community events um to hold at 1153 for in in different areas of the of that building.

What do we call it?

What do you call it?

Yeah, that's a tra that's our training room, but uh it's not a specifically designated community room for no other purpose.

No, there isn't, but there is definitely room for community events at that building.

So what's the capacity?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, go on.

What's the capacity of this room?

Um JD, I'm sorry.

Oh there you go.

All right.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

I was just being facetious, but I was just wondering if the council is um able to utilize the um assem uh assimilation room.

Not sure what that room is, but I'll accomplish it.

The room that you guys have for the uh the uh assimilation stuff.

Oh simulations, yes, absolutely.

We'll get you over there.

Like I said, you don't want to get hit by one of those simulation guns, but uh we'll take it easy on you.

Chief, are you gonna uh plan to have a little museum?

Yes, yes, sir, we are.

Um we have uh folks in in charge of it.

As soon as they come in that public uh entrance on the left hand side, both fire and police will have a uh a museum right there.

We're pulling stuff together.

We're very excited about that.

Yeah, probably the person in this room probably remembers the old fire, the police station on West Wall Street.

I I you do you got me.

Did we donate Chief Cifle Chair to Martinabe?

No, don't know where that ended up.

Okay, okay.

If you find it, I'll sit in it.

All right, thank you very much.

Item 33.

Is there anyone here to speak on that?

Yeah.

That's about uh Chief Johnson Kenzie, director mayor's office reduced gun violence.

So the first item 33 is to rescind um contract with unbelievable, uh, as they did not um uh take part of in that grant, a DOJ grant.

So what we would do with that is um take that 1864 72 um along with um some other funds I'll go down that will be in 35, and we would put that together and divide that uh to the two organizations that continue to do the work.

So that would be uh 34 Syracuse uh model neighborhood.

Uh they would receive now 272, 278.

Um and also that would add on the mothers against gun violence, uh, which will be ran by uh Leepa Jones.

Um and they would also be working with Salvation Army to do some services uh for victims uh or families that have been victims of gun violence.

So go ahead.

So Latif with this with this, that that's that does that mean that they are completely out, they have no services with the city or this well if you sign a contract with the city in 2022 and you haven't done nothing in two years, yeah, they out.

Yes.

I mean, simply without telling you they told you they don't they didn't want to be a part of uh the Department of Justice grant.

Unfortunate.

All right.

So I'm so sorry if you if you'll allow me, um Stephanie Pasqual, Chief Strategy Officer.

Also that that contract actually did it also expire.

It wasn't just that we're we're rescinding it, it expired.

I think the date was um January 31, 2026.

So it legally is over.

Um we're looking to reprogram the funds as Latif mentioned.

We didn't want to be a part of it.

Right.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right, so 35 is to amend OGs.

So OG's contract did expire.

Uh, but our plan would be to also take that those funds.

As I said, we'll combine those funds from unbelievable and OGs and divide those uh properly to Southwest Center and Good Life.

But his was rescinded last year.

I thought so, but it's not a good thing.

No, you're talking about no, that was no, that was Safer Streets.

That was a different contract.

That was another that was another contract, that was Safer Streets.

It was Safer Street, because you came you came and said that he wasn't able to comply with the reporting.

That was Safer Streets.

It was Safe Street, yeah.

Yeah, this is DOJ.

This is separate separate grant.

So with this one, uh same thing.

So but I believe we're still going to work with Cliff, but he will work with um Good Life so he can get the supports he needs.

Uh just a capacity issue.

Um, but he's willing to serve to continue to do the work.

Yes, ma'am.

This is Senator's money.

Say that again.

Department of Justice.

This is D O James.

DOJ, yeah.

Okay.

Good body.

And yeah, so good life would continue uh contracting.

So if you see the amount that goes up, is because we took uh from unbelievable along with OGs, um, combine that money together and then divide uh money between Southwest Center and Good Life to expand and continue the work.

Yes.

Yes, ma'am.

When you talk about expanding it, um specifically with good life, are they gonna have the capacity to do this work?

I can't speak on their behalf.

I mean they that we would have to they they've been doing the work, so we would have to understand.

But if you add more on, do they have the capacity?

Go ahead.

Sorry, do you mind?

No, go ahead.

Um, that's a great question.

Um, Councilor Hudson.

Um so this is also an extension rate.

So the the grant goes through September 30.

So when we had initially gone under contract with these entities, a lot of their contracts expired um or were set to expire January 31, 2026.

So we're when we were looking at the pool of funds and trying not to leave any resources on the table.

We brought um Latif did a great job in his team bringing everybody in to talk about if we had additional support, what could you accomplish between now and September 30?

And so we feel confident that this allocation and their structure, and we're pretty strict on what the scope is, and we'd be happy to provide it um for what each firm is gonna do, how many kids they're gonna be assigned, or young people, I should say, um, assigned to each, and what those expectations are for weekly, monthly touch points, and other goals that we hope the the youth that participate um achieve by September 30.

Because for me, with anything we do, including professional services, when we keep adding on, is the capacity there to actually do what we're looking at.

Yeah, and Latif, I don't know if you want to speak to your involvement in the hiring process, but he's but he and his team have been very involved with the the staffing structure and the um process for um bringing folks on board and the organizations do know this grant is through September 30.

We are working hard to see if we can continue it, but they're that they're actively hiring or have um brought staff on board in anticipation that this would be approved.

Latif, um a couple of counselors who reached out to me and asked if we could have a meeting with you just to find out how effective the programs are are before we vote on this.

Are you willing to do that with us?

And just to let everyone know, we do have several meetings during the month every Thursday.

We have a coalition meeting first Thursdays that you all are invited to.

That meeting is at 230 every first Thursday.

On the second Thursday, we meet at 11 o'clock with uh community leaders and faith leaders.

That is at different locations, different churches, different um uh places of worship.

Third Thursdays, we meet with the CBOs as that'd be tomorrow at 10 o'clock.

Um every third Thursday at 10 o'clock, we meet over uh the Burnett um uh conference room.

So you all can and uh and I think if even if one I know um councilwoman Rashida has attended the meetings, and that can kind of keep you updated on what we're doing for as gun violence, and that's every month, um less it you know is a blizzard or something.

Um I still try to have the meetings.

Yeah, you email us those um meetings.

Um do you all want to be on that email or is it someone?

So if there's a coalition, and I think everybody can't be in that yeah, so so we have to make sure perhaps if Latif could would you mind emailing it to the secretaries and they can help us out?

Okay.

So is that the comes from our met a committee meeting so we can actually unpack all of these items so we know where the money's shuffling for money?

You know what he means.

I'm confused.

I think down here we're okay.

And that's fine.

I could do that.

This disunderstand that as of September the the this this contract will be.

That's fine.

The choices.

No, it's fine.

I just let you know so you you know you have a idea of you know our time that we have to to get this done.

But also, can you um can you produce a org chart of from like the beginning to date and with like you can just who started, who's no longer there, who did it move on to, so I'll have a clearer picture.

No problem.

Okay, and we do have a full report of um what we've been doing, so I will I will have Dow provide that when we meet.

And then if we do the com when we do the committee meeting, we should have representation of these agencies so we can talk to them.

So you also want a presentation from the agencies?

Well, yes.

Okay, no problem.

We need to figure out the capacity.

Yep.

Council President.

That's fine.

Um can you also provide a budget?

I just didn't I wanted to get it in front of the council.

Um, and you know, and we was ti it was time crunch.

So can you provide a budget uh for them so they can um follow through as well?

Yeah, because I know there's still money's left over that's not allocated from all of this too.

So it's still bringing their funds out there.

All right, and just to specifically the DOJ, right?

Just the DOJ.

This is the budget for that.

It's a pastor, it's okay.

When I'm up here is definitely pastor.

Do you think um do you with this um money right here to DOJ money and it's a grant raised?

It has to be spent by October September 30th, yeah.

And are we looking to reapply again to get this?

Or you know, is this like a you know, one-time phone?

I mean, I know this has been ongoing, right?

But are we looking into re-receiving this again for this?

So this was a one-time deal.

This was through um through the DOJ under the last administration, the Biden administration.

Currently, we we have applied for another grant through DOJ, uh, but that's more focused on community and uh the Syracuse 360 project.

But I right now with the current administration, we haven't seen any more grants like this.

Um you know, since since the new administration's been at all, yeah.

More questions.

All right, so we'll we'll set up a meeting time.

Yeah, if you just reach out to Nathan, yeah, uh, and then he can set it up.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

So where are we here?

37 37.

Is there anyone to speak on 37?

Oh that was all of the things.

Oh, that's all part of it.

That's how the site, my apologies.

So you look at from 33 to 3343.

30 40.

339 to 36.

36.

33 to 36.

Yeah, it's all of that.

Yeah, no, so I'm 37.

Now you're on 37.

Oh, yeah, we are so we're going to 39.

Yeah, 37.

37, okay.

Good afternoon, Janet Burks, the director of research.

I apologize.

I had meant my process was going to be to send you the budget for year two for exalt.

When I went to make copies today, too, just to hand them out to you.

It was the wrong budget.

So I had asked Councilor Moore if she would mind if we held this and we can get you the budget on Monday.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Janice, what's the update on on Exode?

Do you know?

Like, where are they as far as being in the city?

As far as where are they as fine as far as finding a location here?

Well, they they have a location.

They have and they have started with the programming.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Where's the location?

Is it ELC?

You know what?

I have to be able to where we're going to be able to do it they're co-located with in the building with um on point right on Harrison Street.

And they're offering programming every afternoon, I believe, from 4:30 to 6:30.

And they've been assigned um young people from uh probation and from referrals from good life.

So they have a cohort of about 10 individuals that they're working with.

So when was the start date?

Uh very recently, maybe um two or three weeks ago.

Okay.

I mean the the location is greatly strategic.

Because you have on point ULC right there in the same building.

Absolutely, and it's a the I actually the mayor and uh Latif and I were invited to one of the classes they did a Shark Tank presentation.

Um, and the the environment, you could tell the students really liked being in the office setting and the the smart board and just how it was organized.

Um we were really impressed with what they um showed us that day.

And the future plan is when ELC moves, they're going with ELC.

I'm not sure that they'll move that this the location that they're in, but that's a great question.

I'd be happy to ask.

Okay, and item 38.

Is there anyone here to speak on that?

Counselor's first deputy chief uh Rich Trudell.

Um item number 38 is uh uh a request for to enter into an application and agreement with uh New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for our Strive grant.

This would be year two of Strive, um statewide targeted intermittent partner violence reduction.

Um it will fund to include but not limited to um salary for detectives um that will um investigate um in a intimate partner violence, um overtime details.

Um also um fund what is called uh domestic violence high risk team, DVHRT team.

It's basically um uh a team of uh multidisciplinary um agencies that are designed to provide immediate relief to victims of domestic violence in the the highest risk category.

Um it would be something that the if there's a domestic violence incident that evening or that morning, this team would get together, identify the needs of the victim, where we're at with the suspect, and develop a specified plan for that uh for that domestic violence in incident to reduce the the likelihood of a serious injury or a death.

Well, let's let's say um the victim needs to um be relocated, needs to be uh put in a location, um, needs food, needs um an order of protection.

Um you know, maybe there's uh the DAs in there and we're looking at the potential charges on the suspect.

It really is like a comprehensive analysis of that particular domestic violence incident to make sure that we are providing the the correct response and the correct resources to it.

Um and I think yes, so this would be year two.

We're just getting our feet underneath us um with this, but it's definitely uh definitely moving forward.

But there's being year two is one of them.

Yeah, have you had relocate talking about that's what I was gonna ask about out of town local relocation?

Okay, so I don't know the specifics on each of those data areas.

I know that um the team is just getting established, so um we can start to provide data on that.

I also know that in the without the team in place that there's been discussions ad hoc on particular domestic violence incidents and trying to to get the right resources, but I don't have specific data on how many times we relocated, if at all.

But we will definitely be able to provide that based on year two funding and this development of this team.

So, how many detectives did this come up for year one?

Year one was one detective, year two, year two is two detectives.

Will you have a connection with the agencies that offer some of these community services for domestic?

Absolutely, yes.

So Vera House, the DA's office, and the police department are the like the co-chairs of this brand.

Oh, good.

And then there's uh a number, a number of other agencies um that we can get you additional information on um that are involved in this.

We wouldn't love to see.

Yes, we can definitely do that.

Absolutely.

I said that was my last question, but when you probably have the DA, I just want to ask this question because I know that the district attorney's office, they have relocation.

So do you guys work together with the DA's office on the relocation plans?

Yes, absolutely.

So the victim services is what you're talking about with the DA's office.

Vera House has a similar um you know program within the Vera House.

The whole idea is of that team is that there's no duplication of effort and no one's getting left behind that that that coordination.

Absolutely.

Yep.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Donna.

Sorry.

Um item 39.

Good afternoon, counselors.

Uh the Chief Tom, Circle's please.

I have uh item 39 to enter to agreement with New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services for a uh $50,000 grant from their anti-violence initiative program to assist with our PAL program.

The funding will go towards purchasing equipment, uniforms conducting field trips.

Uh additionally, we're looking at um hosting a teens and cops podcast series, um a barbershop program for teens to develop additional skills if they're not going towards a traditional schooling route, and also work towards getting them CPR first aid certified.

And we're good.

Any questions?

Okay, thank you.

I have item 40.

Is anybody from the auditor's office here?

They probably wouldn't be here.

Well, I didn't know if they wanted to speak to it.

That's all okay.

That's all I got.

Anybody anybody on board with this right here with Donna?

Yes, yes, yeah.

Is that everybody or who's everybody?

I would like to remove my remove myself.

I'm not on board with that.

Everybody's stuff with counselor and right.

Right.

And I'm fine with this.

I just want to know does this include an RFP process?

I went.

I'm I'm confused about the the bearing.

So we want our auditor to undertake this with his existing resources, not in an independent review.

Because it says an independent review in the language.

I don't understand what you're asking.

Said it again, because yeah, we we want the auditor to undertake a review with the resources that he has at his disposal right now within three weeks.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah.

So not an RFP process for additional resources to do a line-by-line itemized audit for police and fire.

That wouldn't be just clarifying.

That wouldn't be us to to put that out there.

Yeah.

Okay.

So we're just requesting um for the auditor, which is his position is to give it away.

That's his job.

That's his main job.

Okay, I got you.

Joe, did you want to say anything on this?

Or uh okay, all right.

All right, are you okay?

Okay.

Um counselor Williams.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh Counselor Monta to get his rappers out of the way.

Um 41 through 47.

Good afternoons, counselor Evan Loving, budget director.

Item 41 is an annual item that we do.

It is a property tax cap waiver.

We do this as a preventative measure, so it does not mean that we will exceed the tax cap, but if we do, it won't be a penalty.

Thank you.

Easy enough.

Um 42.

Good afternoon.

For the last two years, two people in my department have been working in the basement of City Hall, going through box after box that has been left down there with no not following any retention schedule.

Sometimes the boxes are broken.

There's it's it was a mess.

They have been working for two years and have gotten through about a third of it.

Um we are asking to apply to the New York State Archives for a grant to bring in a consultant.

We're down to some of the records we're not quite sure what to do with, and he knows the retention schedule backwards and forwards.

He can tell us what needs to go and what need what can stay, and and help us re-we're getting on new shelving and trying to put everything, and then it'll be on our our database, so we will know what every box is, what's in the boxes, and we can retrieve records.

Are you digitizing the files?

I'm sorry, are you digitizing the files?

Putting them on the computer basically.

Yes, oh I'm sorry, yes, we have a database now.

I'm sorry, for all the records, one park place and city hall comments.

Can it database is it's you know where it tells you where things are, but they're the files themselves.

Are you digitizing that?

Correct.

Yeah, okay.

Okay.

Janet.

Council Council President?

Okay.

Like this particular grant, we got maybe about two years ago, counselors.

And they did, yeah.

They digitized now a lot of our uh mayor's records.

And I'm hoping that um, you know, y'all approve it.

They get it this year, and maybe next year we get it.

We still got thousands more than we'll continue your project.

Janet, don't let her spend her name.

She's that thank you.

Can it?

Janet.

One question.

Sure.

Do you need any volunteers?

I don't know.

It's pretty it's pretty dirty down there.

Well, there's some there's I I have some knowledge.

So I'll give it give you a call.

What those pictures are.

Yeah, a lot of this is engineering finance assessment.

And there was some for the mayor's office, but we've left that.

We're leaving that alone.

Uh if you need me, I can help you.

Yeah, I found a lot of things.

Thank you, Jennifer.

I hope it works out.

Yes.

Um item 43 Good afternoon, counselors.

Michael Lehman with the assessment department.

Uh item 43 is we're asking for a renewal of a lease uh with uh water department employee at the um apartment currently rented in uh at 20 West Genesee Street.

It's a two-year renewal the rate will go up by five percent.

Yes.

Well sir.

Yeah.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

I also have item 44.

The Department of Assessment requests the hiring of an appraiser for the property at 1939 Fiat Street East to Ives.

Um in contemplation of its sale.

And that's all the parkside.

Uh yes, the applicant to purchase his Parkside Commons.

Thank you.

Um I just want to let everybody know that the Parkside Commons has a new um new uh maintenance approval or property management approval as of last month.

Okay, Commissioner.

Counselor Nabe, we're looking for a new director of operations.

I think you just volunteered for a basement project.

Uh we're requesting another appraisal.

This one is for ongoing litigation, looking for an independent appraisal uh to take to court.

And this does say trial ready, not trail ready.

Is that correct?

We're gonna keep it indoors, yeah.

Just checking 46.

We're requesting uh modification of the tax rules.

This is uh you might remember that larger roll amendment that we brought a few weeks ago with respect to railroad properties, four of these inadvertently included um billboards on railroad property, so these should not be roll section seven, they should be roll section one returning to fully taxable railroad owned, not railroad used.

Finally, 47, I think we'll go to executive session on that discuss uh pending settlements.

Um, Madam President, given the time and the duration of our meeting, I request that we do that on Monday.

Okay if that works for you and and for corporation council.

Great, thank you.

Um I'm all set, thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Uh Council Channel Strausser.

Oh Madam President, I have item 48.

Um item 48.

I don't think we have anybody speak on this.

Um we should be moving forward with that yeah.

All right.

I'll come back for 49.

We would like to uh are you all set?

Yeah, okay.

We're all set.

Uh uh, Councilor Monteau.

Thank you, President Panagwa.

Uh I have items 49 through 53.

49 will be ready to go on Monday.

Okay.

Item 50, Chief Trudell.

I talked to Chief Russell this morning and he said we're okay to go with this, but I just want to make sure nothing's changed since 10 o'clock.

We're good to go and just appreciate uh appreciate the council's uh cooperation and patience uh with this uh this item.

Likewise, we appreciate your patience with it too.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Uh 51.

That's with that goes with 49, right, Matt?

So that one's okay too.

Uh 52.

We're putting it with uh 51, counselor?

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Michael Lehman again, Deputy Commissioner.

Uh assessments.

Uh 51, the city's requesting authorization to enter into a purchase and sale agreements with Parkside Commons for the city owned property uh at 2016 to 2024 Fat Street East and Ellis Street.

It's a vacant lot right now.

It was appraised uh for 45,000, which would be the purchase price in the agreement.

It's part of that whole development, right?

Yes.

Okay, okay.

Any questions on that one?

So this is I know exactly a lot.

And what are they plan?

What do they plan on?

Is that part of the construction or did you use a net?

I I understand that uh a building would be constructed there to uh supplement where folks can live while they are working on the buildings on the north side of Fayette.

So are you dad?

I understand the building part that's gonna be added on to the construction site if you're already near the story.

That lot that we own.

Is that added on to this construction bill?

But I did catch possibly an error of the short title.

I'm sorry, counselor.

So the property that we're selling, yes.

Is that a part of their rendering of the construction side?

Yeah, that that um phase one south side of East Fayette, that's part of that larger building at the corner of Ellis on the corner store, and then our lot directly to the east on the corner of Ellis.

Uh no, south across from um across from the current um 1900 or 2,000 block buildings.

So there's the so there's the taller one on the hilly corner on the former bakery side.

Um this is the other one.

Yeah.

Okay.

And I just want to clarify we've got a not to exceed of 45,000 on here.

It should exceed 45,000 because it should um include a praised value plus recording and uh title.

So we'll we'll check the draft ordinance and make sure.

Yeah.

I don't know what you say.

I don't know if you're not going to be able to do that.

Yeah, I know short titles.

Yeah, we exchange we'll look at the 45,000 is the floor.

Thanks, Matt.

Uh 52?

Yes, I think Jake, yeah, it's bringing the circus time.

Good afternoon, Council.

Jake Dishhaw, Deputy Commissioner of Code Enforcement and Zoning.

Item number 52 is to amend uh chapter 5 of the revised general ordinances titled Entertainment Licenses.

Um in short, to summarize the this is uh language change and the general purpose is uh proposing new legislation to reduce the number of different licenses that we have and to unify the licensing process in order to uh administer this through the division of code enforcement and the permit office, uh, along with Syracuse Police and uh fire department.

So, in short, uh the biggest thing we're doing is creating two different license types for entertainment based on crowd size.

The threshold is 350 people.

A big venue that can hold that or more needs to get a license per event.

So think Westcott Theater.

Smaller venue can get an annual license that covers it for the year.

Think 443 social.

This is in direct response to some of the uh comments and feedback we've gotten from the public and from local business owners.

This is a good thing, and uh, I think this is the right place to go.

And uh I believe uh it's a it's a favorable action for our constituents and our business owners.

So Jake, my one question is if if they have an annual license for the small gatherings, is the at easily revocable if if we're seeing problems weekend after weekend.

We're mimicking like our certificate of use process, our tobacco licensing process, so all that is incorporated into this.

Jake, I have another question.

In terms of the ones who have to do the every time license, is there something that allows them to upload a whole year's worth of events ahead of time and then tweak them or add additional if necessary?

Or is there a reoccurring permitting process that they can go through?

We will do whatever we can that's sort of what we've been doing before getting this uh formalized with some people because we know they that sometimes it's hard to work with promoters and kind of schedule changes, but uh I want to stress the key to this is we really need to know from a public uh emergency response aspect do we have sufficient security, police response, fire response if something happens at a large gathering.

So to answer your question, yes, we'll do what we can to take in uh known events in advance.

Um so we can work through those and process those for those large venues, but if we don't know about it, we we can't review it and assist to say that we know we have uh enough public uh response to you know respond to something uh an incident or an emergency if it happens, but we'll continue to do what we can.

We want these things to be held in a safe manner, and that's what this is about.

So Jake, are you concerned about the venue like 443 club?

Um I heard some criticism from people go there.

That why do they have to get every time?

So are you looking at the amount of people are coming, the size of the venue?

Yeah, uh so that's what I was just stating.

If it's under they're under 350 people, I believe they're under 100, even though um they will just need the annual and they'll be good to go.

Okay, so it's documented.

Yes.

Okay.

Anybody else?

Thanks, Shaykh.

Uh 53 is an agreement to exempt certain projects per general municipal law that go through planning and zoning, uh, exempting from needing to send those for referral to the Onadoga County Planning Board.

So certain variances, certain special use permits, certain site plan reviews that city zoning gets, by law, we have to refer those to the Onadoga County Planning Board for review and comment.

Many times we get no comment back from them.

So projects that have little to no impact on the community countywide, we're gonna exempt those from being sent out.

It just delays the process for development and approvals because the OCPB schedule does not align with our schedules for council or for planning commission.

This is a good thing.

This kind of eliminates some red tape in the process for development.

Um, and I urge the adoption.

The the uh major the major department that we do deal with there would be WEP.

Yeah, so how does that affect it?

Uh I would say bigger projects like that we we would still send out for comment um on things like that.

Um, but again, this is directly to the Onadaga County Planning Board.

Um, if we're dealing with issues that are related to uh things that WEP needs to weigh in on, we'll certainly include them as a as a reviewer on projects.

anybody else?

Okay, I'm all set.

Thank you, Madam President.

All right, president, all the waiver items have been addressed.

All the waiver items have to be addressed, yes.

So I understand we have a we don't have it.

Okay, Monday.

All right, so um meeting adjourned, uh motion to adjourn.

Second.

So is that the session?

No, no, Monday, Monday.

Okay,