Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Syracuse Common Council convened for a study session on October 21, 2026, to discuss a range of items scheduled for future action, including capital improvements, lead service line replacement, vacant land management, tree planting, a hotel occupancy tax, assessment corrections, public safety staffing, affordable housing tax agreements, and a comprehensive plan contract. City staff and commissioners presented on each topic. No formal votes were taken, but the council moved several items forward for a voting session on Monday and entered executive session for items 27 and 28.
The council discussed a resolution to support $25 million in funding for the lead service line replacement project, which was described as an unfunded mandate. Lobbying efforts are set to begin through the "Big Lead Table." A councilor confirmed outreach to state, federal, and county levels. The estimated total cost to replace all lines is $500–700 million, with 12,000 service lines of unknown material still to be inventoried. A resolution of support is expected at the next voting session.
The council reviewed a $12 million capital plan that includes replacing the water main on North Beach Street from Burnett to Holly—a stretch with three to four breaks each year—and on Emerson Avenue, which also has multiple breaks. Approximately 70 broken valves throughout the system will be addressed, along with work on the conduit to Skaneateles. One councilor urged that water projects be paired with sidewalk and tree improvements to limit disruption from concurrent I-690 and I-81 projects and to strengthen infrastructure in the area.
The council discussed a resolution to appoint George Lynch to the Citizens Review Board to fill a vacancy. A vote is scheduled for Monday.
The council authorized bonded funds for a program to improve city-owned vacant lots that are unsuitable for housing. The program will turn these lots into basic landscapes with flat grass and trees and place them on a mowing cycle to address dumping, crime, and aesthetic issues. Identified sites include the Westcott Gateway (Erie, Lombard, East Fayette) and the Birch Street Railroad Bridge. Councilors asked about partnerships with groups such as SOFSA for community gardens; the commissioner responded that water access is a challenge but community engagement is possible. Discussion also covered a Brownfield site at Crowley and Fayette.
The council considered $500,000 in bond authorization for tree planting over three years, complementing a $1.7 million federal grant for income-eligible areas that is now executing. Staff explained that 1.5-inch caliper trees are used for cost-effectiveness and catch up to larger specimens within 10 years. Councilors inquired about planting locations, species diversity, an opt-out policy for residents, and the challenge of hazardous trees on private property. Staff noted limited mechanisms to assist homeowners with tree removals, which can cost $5,000–$15,000, and described code enforcement for dead or diseased trees. The council urged exploring grants and partnerships for private tree removal.
The council approved a lease renewal for parking enforcement devices from EDC, a local Syracuse company. Historically split into two invoices, the contract will be consolidated into a single invoice next year.
The council discussed a local law to enact a hotel motel occupancy tax following state passage of home rule legislation. The FY27 budget projects $800,000 from the tax. Councilors raised concerns about unlicensed short-term rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo) causing neighborhood nuisances and suggested requiring licenses. Staff reported they are actively working to include short-term rentals in the tax structure.
Two roll corrections were presented: city-owned 101 Washington Square and privately owned 301 South Kraus, both with incorrectly calculated water bills. Staff requested correction of the assessments.
The council approved a transfer of funds to the Syracuse Police Department to hire two additional dog control officers for afternoon shifts and a supervisory position. The chief confirmed these positions will expand coverage and improve supervision. Councilors raised past complaints about dismissive responses to calls and asked about improved service. The chief committed to addressing any inappropriate responses and expressed willingness to collaborate with the Syracuse City School District on therapy dog programs.
The council considered a 15-year shelter rent exemption (with a 15-year renewal option) for Phase 3 of the "Status" project at 927 South State Street. The agreement covers 118 income-restricted units, with an annual payment of $64,090 escalating at 2% per year, plus standard fees. Staff explained that 15-year terms balance developer needs for tax credit viability with council preference against longer agreements. Councilors asked about rent levels and annual accounting; staff confirmed that rents are determined by HUD limits and that the Department of Finance monitors compliance.
The council reviewed a contract amendment with EDR for comprehensive planning, increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $150,000 to $485,000. The increase is funded by a $250,000 New York State Department of State grant and $85,000 from the planning budget. Councilors questioned whether further increases would be needed; staff responded that no additional requests are anticipated.
Which is at a pretty challenging structure last couple of years. Okay. So that took you going to take the rest of them going? Thirteen is bad ordinance for the twenty-five million dollars for our lead service replacement project that we had the committee meeting about. That's you got that perfectly. So have we started lobbying for this now? We have started, we have the the big lead table is gonna be starting next week, so we're we're gonna try to start asking everyone we can to help us. Okay, do I mean when we reach out, we reach out to the state, the feds, do we reach out to the county? Okay. Essentially, it's an unfunded mandate. That's correct. So I know it's a hard question, but do we have a price tag overall to do all of it? Like what's the I know it get to it prices change, but we have like a could be like 500 to 700 million. That's what I heard last year. We still have a lot of unknowns. Um I think we have 12,000 unknowns that we don't know if they're led or not. So we're doing an inventory trying to find that out, but um the cost is attached to the 30,000. Okay, exactly. Yep, and a score rent because that's time to go by, that's gonna probably be going. Oh, yeah, and the cost of copper is probably going to because the whole country is gonna be doing that exactly. We are working on a resolution to send out for the support. Um, so in the next voting session, we should have that to help the process. That would be great. Yeah. All right, so that took care of 1314. Yep. Uh 15, I think is the 15 15 and 16 coming. Right. That is uh 12 million for our capital for the next year. Yeah, and our plan is for uh North Beach Street from Burnett to Holly, replacing that main. Um, there have been three to four waterman breaks there each year. So that one needs to be done. Same uh the next one is Emerson Ave. We have multiple main breaks there too, and then we have approximately 70 broken valves throughout the system that we would like to start replacing. Also, we have some stuff on the conduit from here to Skiniatlas that we'd like to work on too. You said n North Beach Street to Hawley. North Beach Street from Burnett to Holly. Okay, okay. Yeah, that that that's a separate conversation, but it's was pretty rough on that road. We still have the leak detectors,