Syracuse City Council Meeting – September 9, 2026

The Syracuse City Council met on September 9, 2026, to consider a wide range of items including labor agreements, environmental easements, infrastructure contracts, park donations, police services, zoning amendments, and a bond refunding. Staff from multiple city departments presented recommendations, and councilors discussed and approved most items, with some held for further review. An executive session followed the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Labor Agreement Correction (Items 11-12): Deputy Mayor Corey Dunham presented a labor agreement with the trades union, retroactive to January 1. A correction was noted: the budget amendment should be for fiscal year 2526, not 2020-21. Item 11 was to amend the 2526 city budget. No questions, item moved forward.
• Honorary Street Sign (Item 13): Councilor Majoke introduced an honorary street sign for Mark Cass on Mark Cassway. The item was held previously due to minor changes; the councilor indicated he would check with the sponsor.
• Environmental Easement (Item 14): Owen Kearney, Planning and Sustainability, requested authorization for an environmental easement at 1410 Erie Boulevard, a city-owned brownfield site being remediated with New York State. The easement is required to maintain the cleanup system. Completion expected next year.
• Sewer Lining Projects (Items 15-16): City Engineer Mary Robison presented two sewer lining projects: one for Maria Regina Apartments (15-inch combined sewer, 1300-1400 block Highland Street) and one for Gateway Syracuse Apartments (12-inch combined sewer, 100 block of Forman Avenue). Both meet one-on-one sanitary sewer offset requirements at no cost to the city.
• Engineering Contract Amendments (Items 17-18):
  • Item 17: Amendment to C&S Companies agreement, increasing by $1.6 million to a total not to exceed $6.6 million for projects including Schiller Park, fire maintenance garage, and others. Funding comes from existing capital accounts. New RFPs will be issued next winter.
  • Item 18: Similar amendment for CHAM, increasing by $1.5 million to a total not to exceed $2.5 million for parks, pools, greenhouse, and inner harbor work.
• Right-of-Way Closure Extension (Item 19): Eric from the mayor’s office requested a 90-day extension of the right-of-way closure on Comstock Avenue, with fees at $800 per day ($72,000 total), prepaid by the university.
• Fuel Island Replacement Design (Items 20-21): Ann Fordak (DPW) and Jeff Rola (Fleet Director) presented a $50,000 design services contract for a new fuel island. Discussion included the need to evaluate current gas/diesel infrastructure and future electric vehicle charging. A transition plan for EVs over the next 10 years exists but requires infrastructure upgrades, training, and power capacity from National Grid.
• Sewer Capital Equipment (Items 22-23): Vehicles listed in Schedule A for the sewer capital equipment program; all are on state or national contracts.
• Parking Meter System (Item 24): Vinny Scipione, CIO, requested authorization to continue paying Flowbird for parking meter and mobile app services until the new contract with ParkMobile (which acquired Flowbird) is executed.
• Park Donations and Programs (Items 25-30): Commissioner Say Shabur presented:
  • Bench donation and plaque for Gloria Sage at Comfort Tyler Park (Item 25).
  • $535 donation from Iswa Neighborhood Association for an arbor at Eastwood Heights Garden (Item 26).
  • Two benches valued at $3,798 from Eastwood via TNT (Item 27). Councilor Petrona raised concerns about bench placement at Kirk Park interfering with cheerleading practice; staff agreed to improve communication with park user groups.
  • Agreement with Elite Gaming for e-gaming programs at Wilson and Southwest rec centers (Item 28). Staff reports high usage.
  • Agreement with MOST for educational programs, 20 hours of Discovery 101 workshops (Item 29).
  • Music performance trust fund, $2,000 (50% reimbursement) for park performances, used for Mile Market on October 3 (Item 30).
• Police Services Agreements (Items 31-36): Deputy Chief Rich Trudeau presented:
  • Agreement with Humane CNY for veterinary and lodging for animals in cruelty investigations (82 animals last year, 68 year-to-date) (Item 31).
  • Agreement with Community Animal Hospital for police dog care, $21,000 (Item 32).
  • Appropriation of $74,500 for neighborhood watch group led by Tony Borelli (Item 33).
  • Payment authorization for two officers’ SWAT training in 2025, missed due to travel coordinator turnover (Item 34).
  • Authorization to use Oswego County emergency vehicle track ($12,000) and DEC classroom ($3,000) for police training (Items 35-36).
  • Councilor asked about license plate scanners on Clawvin; Deputy Chief confirmed they are disabled and being removed.
• Bond Refunding Authorization (Item 38): Commissioner of Finance Diane Astry requested authorization to refund callable bonds to capture market savings.
• Tax Roll Corrections (Item 39): Commissioner of Assessment Matt OJ presented two corrections: 730 LeMoyne Avenue (assessment error due to communication) and 1703 West Onondaga Street (inaccurate omitted tax calculation for a mid-year conveyance).
• Ordinance Amendment for Demolished Property (Item 40): Councilor Jones Traviser introduced an ordinance amendment to correct property description for 511 East Laurel, now a vacant lot after demolition.
• North Side Main Street Program (Item 41): Brianka Hill, Deputy Commissioner of Business Development, requested acceptance of up to $1.5 million from Onondaga County for 19 selected projects on the north side. The city acts as pass-through with no match required. Councilors noted the program is one-time and broader than previous South Salina program.
• Maria Regina Project Amendments (Items 42): Commissioners Matt OJ and Michael Carlitz presented an amendment to reflect name changes of the beneficial owner and housing development fund corporation for the Maria Regina project. Discussion included property overgrowth; city staff will address mowing.
• Battery Energy Storage Moratorium (Items 43-44): Deputy Commissioner Jake Dishwell requested a public hearing to amend the moratorium on battery energy storage systems to allow commercial building installations, while continuing to work on the permanent local law.
• Special Use Permits (Items 46-48):
  • Item 46: Restaurant under 1,000 sq ft at 658 West Onondaga Street; typo in resolution noted.
  • Item 47: Halal restaurant at 2000 Park Street; area with previous parking encroachment will be corrected per site plan.
  • Item 48: Cannabis dispensary at 814 Wolf Street, with tentative state license.
• Resolution on State Legislation (Item 49): Councilor Monte introduced a resolution urging the state assembly, senate, and governor to pass a bill related to woman hunters. Councilor Williams joined.

Key Outcomes

• Most items were presented and moved forward without recorded votes, indicating consensus or approval.
• Item 13 (honorary street sign) was held for further changes.
• The council planned to enter executive session after the meeting.
• Staff committed to addressing overgrowth at the Maria Regina property and improving communication on bench placements.
• The battery energy storage moratorium amendment will proceed to a public hearing.
• The bond refunding authorization was approved to allow taking advantage of market conditions.