Syracuse Common Council Meeting - June 10, 2026

The Syracuse Common Council met on June 10, 2026, to consider a wide range of agenda items covering infrastructure projects, public safety contracts, summer youth programs, zoning permits, and routine authorizations. Key discussions included the Comstock Road closure, deer management, fire department equipment waivers, and the status of the city's parking checker vehicle program. The meeting also included multiple bond ordinances, grant applications, and honorary street sign designations. Several items were held for future committee meetings or executive session.

Discussion Items

• Item 11 (Comstock Road Closure): Eric from the Mayor's Office provided an update on the right-of-way utilization for the Comstock Road closure that began December 29. Reports on daily usage have been compared against payments made by the university for the first 90 days and a subsequent 90-day period. The legal aspects of the closure will be discussed in executive session.
• Item 15 (Cyclone Media): A pre-existing contract with Cyclone Media was amended to extend the end date from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027, with no change in dollar amount.
• Item 16 (Park Mobile): The vendor for mobile pay parking meters has transitioned from Flowbird to Park Mobile LLC. Council members inquired about the company stability given past name changes and asked about parking revenues and the status of equipping parking checkers with vehicles. First Deputy Chief Trudell later confirmed two of six parking checkers are in cars, and SPD is working to increase that number.
• Items 20-28 (Infrastructure): City Engineer Mary Robison presented:
  • Item 20: Agreement with CNS Engineers for West Brighton Ave bridge rehab design (95% federal reimbursement, fee not to exceed $340,800).
  • Item 21: Appropriation of $250,000 for sewer infrastructure digital mapping and inspections, partially funded by a $1.3 million stormwater coalition grant. Discussion on current mapping progress.
  • Items 22-23: Bond ordinance and right-of-way permission for phase three of the East Adams Transformation Project (city contribution to sewer, water, lighting, landscaping, pedestrian improvements).
  • Items 24-26: Bond ordinance and design authorization for improvements to South Geddes Street and West Fayette Street (80% federal, 15% state, 5% local; total design cost not to exceed $817,000).
  • Items 27-28: Bond ordinance for infrastructure and stormwater improvements including retaining walls, bridges, culverts. Discussion on creek sedimentation in Franklin Square; city is seeking grant funding.
• Items 29-43 (Parks and Summer Programs): Commissioner Saiy Shabur and City Arborist Steve Harris presented:
  • Item 29: Renewal of contract with Onondaga Earth Corps for tree planting and pruning (same amount). Earth Corps plants two-thirds of city street trees and prunes about 1,500 young trees per year.
  • Item 30: Increase in deer and tick management contract from $100,000 to $104,000. 147 deer were removed; population is reported to be decreasing. Tick presence is increasing; new signs warning residents are going up.
  • Items 31-43: Summer program agreements including Connect for Kids Parks Field Trip Grant, Food Bank of CNY meals, Roseland Gifford Zoo education, Onondaga Valley Lacrosse clinics, track and field clinics, Red House youth programs, Pops in the Park performers (Washington Square Park not included this year; rotating parks), adaptive sports, county library programs, NCSI background checks, Red Cross lifeguard certification fee collection, Swank Motion Pictures for movies in the park (paid yearly), and a residency waiver for SCSD employees to run youth camps.
• Items 44-51 (Community Items):
  • Item 44: Installation of honorary street sign for Pastor Darren Heine at Elk and Salina (unanimously seconded).
  • Items 45-51: Several items held for committee meeting on June 15 at 10 a.m. (items 45, 46, 48, 49, 51); items 47 and 50 moving forward.
• Items 52-67 (Police and Fire):
  • Item 52: Temporary authorization for Dr. Leswing to provide fit-for-duty psychological exams for police (to allow bidding process).
  • Item 53: Agreement with NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for police services at State Fair (Aug 19-31, $50,000 reimbursement, overtime basis, 4-9 officers plus supervisors depending on day).
  • Items 54-56: Fire department waivers for plan review support (Sean Morrison, sole source unique qualifications), and for two chaplains (Daniel O'Hara and Pastor Jaime). Discussion on diversity of chaplains; Chief agreed to consider adding others if needed.
  • Item 57: Consultants for EMS (Mr. Holiday and Lindsay Newsom) guiding policies and procedures.
  • Item 58: Authorization to apply for FEMA grant for SCBAs, driver training, and equipment.
  • Item 59: Another FEMA grant application for $750,000 to support a smoke detection program targeting low-income neighborhoods, elderly 65+, families with young children, and deaf/hard of hearing. Chief will connect with Councillor Nave on senior outreach.
  • Items 60-66: Waivers for sole source vendors: Advanced Electronic Designs (data terminal parts/service), Jerome Fire Equipment (SCBA parts/service), Lewis Uniform and United Uniform (firefighter uniform purchases/tailoring – $500/year per firefighter, unused funds return to general fund), PBS Brakes (brake relining for all apparatus), Rev Group (fire truck parts), United Radio (Motorola radio repair).
  • Item 67: Honorary street sign for Anna Thompson Perez (founder of Syracuse Lovey) at Seymour and Southwest.
• Items 68-76 (Council Items):
  • Items 68-70: Technical amendments regarding BAA administrative law judges and parking violation bureau hearing judges. Item 68 (local law) will be introduced and tabled; Item 69 held; Item 70 eligible for vote on Monday.
  • Items 71-72: Bond authorization for JSCB phase three construction.
  • Items 73-76: To be discussed in executive session.
• Items 77-82 (Final Items):
  • Item 77: Honorary street sign for Ozeetta Rosemary Jackson Way at South Avenue and Daisy Street.
  • Item 78: Amendment to blight busting architect services contract – account number change and increase from $9,000 to $40,000 (using community project funds).
  • Items 79-81: Zoning permits – 79: special use permit for restaurant at 07 Rengo Street; 80: special use permit for geothermal energy center at 751 W. Rensselaer Street (using wastewater heat exchange, not geothermal); 81: zone change from R5 to R2 at 07 Q Hudson Street for a companion resubdivision.
  • Item 82: Authorization to continue street lighting maintenance agreement with O'Connell Electric for three years, not to exceed $2 million.

Key Outcomes

• Items held for committee: 45, 46, 48, 49, 51 (committee meeting June 15).
• Items held for executive session: 73-76, as well as legal aspects of Item 11.
• All other items moved forward for voting at a future meeting unless noted otherwise (e.g., Item 70 eligible for vote on June 15).
• Council will continue to monitor parking checker vehicle availability, tick/ deer management, and training facility fee schedule.
• Fire Chief will follow up with Councillors on training facility revenue and smoke detector program for elderly residents.