2026-09-28 - Common Council Regular Meeting

05:03Okay, good afternoon everybody.

05:07Thank you.

05:10Good afternoon everybody.

05:12We're we're going to start our regular

05:15meeting.

05:17Uh so we're going to stand for the

05:18Pledge of Allegiance.

05:23>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

05:26United States of America and to the

05:29republic for which it stands, one nation

05:32under God, indivisible, with liberty and

05:35justice for all.

05:37>> And we're going to welcome Pastor Conroy

05:39Lewis from the Grace Baptist Church.

05:44>> Let us pray.

05:46Heavenly Father, thank you for the

05:47opportunity

05:49that we have to see a new day and life

05:51and breath

05:53and all the blessings that you've given

05:54to us, Lord. And as we gather together

05:57for

05:58this meeting today, Father, I pray for

06:01wisdom, pray for grace, we pray for

06:02strength. Lord, we look to you, Lord,

06:05and as our refuge, as our hope for this

06:08city. And we're thankful, Lord, for the

06:10death of your son, Jesus Christ, on the

06:12cross that we could find salvation and

06:15hope and forgiveness of our sins. Lord,

06:17we love you and we thank you for who you

06:19are and we give you praise today in

06:21Jesus' name. Amen and amen.

06:24>> Amen.

06:24>> You may be seated.

06:26>> [clears throat]

06:28>> All right. Please call the roll.

06:33>> Councilor Caldwell.

06:34>> Present.

06:35>> Councilor Mitchell.

06:36>> Here.

06:37>> Councilor Ryan.

06:37>> Here.

06:38>> Councilor Hudson.

06:39>> Here.

06:40>> Councilor Nave.

06:41>> Here.

06:41>> Councilor Moore.

06:42>> Here.

06:43>> Councilor Williams.

06:44>> Here.

06:44>> Councilor Jones-Rounds.

06:47>> Thank you, Brian.

06:48>> Um

06:49Councilor Jones-Rounds.

06:51>> Here.

06:51>> Councilor Mato.

06:52>> Here.

06:53>> All present.

06:54>> Thank you. Uh

06:56motion to approve the minutes from

06:58September 14th. Make a motion.

07:00>> Second.

07:01Thank you.

07:03And we [clears throat] are now going to

07:04start a public hearing

07:07regarding agenda item number 40. Can you

07:09please read the short title?

07:11>> Brian, give me the short title. I'm not

07:12wearing my glasses.

07:13>> [laughter]

07:15>> Go ahead. Go ahead.

07:17>> Uh

07:19This is a public hearing relative to

07:21agenda item number 40 to amend ordinance

07:23587 from August 3rd, 2026 to adopt a

07:27citywide 6-month moratorium on battery

07:30energy storage systems regarding the

07:31issuance of permits and/or approvals

07:34related to BESS facilities within the

07:36city of Syracuse, which includes a

07:386-month extension effective August 22nd,

07:412026

07:42to allow city

07:44uh time to assess the public's concerns.

07:46Amend the ordinance uh amend the

07:48attached draft article uh 22 23, excuse

07:52me, entitled moratorium on battery

07:54energy storage system section C entitled

07:57exceptions

07:59to add a language that reads, quote,

08:00"Applicant for small-scale accessory

08:02commercial BESS not a primary land use

08:04type with a capacity of 600 kWh or less

08:07shall be required to obtain a

08:08development permit from the city of

08:10Syracuse permitting and zoning

08:11administration offices with formal

08:13inspection from the city of Syracuse

08:15code enforcement office and permitting

08:17office upon installation."

08:18>> Thank you.

08:20Is there anyone here to speak in favor

08:22of this proposal?

08:27Is there anyone here to speak in favor

08:29of this proposal?

08:32Okay.

08:32Is there anyone here to speak in

08:34opposition of this proposal?

08:38Is there anyone here to speak in

08:40opposition of this proposal?

08:43Okay, hearing none,

08:45this meeting is closed.

08:48All right, so then we move on to any

08:50petitions.

08:52No, Madam President. Any committee

08:53reports?

08:54>> Yes, Madam President. On September 22nd,

08:572026,

08:59uh our public transportation committee

09:02had a meeting uh regarding Veo and its

09:06uh

09:07bicycle firm. Thank you.

09:10>> Yes, Madam [clears throat] President. On

09:13What year

09:14What year was it?

09:17The 24th of of September, we had a Parks

09:20and Recreation Committee meeting to

09:22discuss the deer and tick management

09:25program.

09:27>> Thank you, Madam President. Yes, um I

09:29had a committee meeting on September

09:3016th regarding HR and also regarding um

09:37employment in the city of Syracuse.

09:39>> Thank you. Any communications?

09:41>> President Panatella, we had a economic

09:44development committee meeting on

09:45September 21st at 5:30 to discuss the

09:48revocation of the special use permit for

09:49the Westcott Theater.

09:52>> Thank you. Anybody else?

09:54Okay. Any communications?

09:56>> No, Madam President.

09:58>> Okay, so moving into the agenda.

10:00Counselor Cotwell.

10:02>> Speaking of Madam President, I have item

10:04A

10:05and

10:08item 11, but they're both going to be

10:10held. So,

10:11um, until next meeting. Thank you.

10:14>> So,

10:15um

10:17item 9A.

10:19Any objections?

10:21>> Oh, I hold on.

10:23It's going to be held. Both of them are

10:24going to be held.

10:25>> It is is being held. Sorry.

10:27Item 10.

10:29>> only I just want to put it out there.

10:30They're being held just so, um, people

10:32know it's because we were still waiting

10:34on a letter that we didn't receive. So,

10:36thank you.

10:37>> Any resolutions or is that being

10:39withdrawn? Item 10.

10:42>> Item 10 are being withdrawn.

10:44>> Item 10 is being withdrawn.

10:45[clears throat]

10:46Item 11 is being held. Counselor Montas

10:50or Counselor Montas is here.

10:51>> [clears throat]

10:51>> Counselor Montas.

10:53>> Thank you, Madam President. I have item

10:5512 to 23. They're already. I would like

10:58to introduce them and urge their

10:59adoptions.

11:01>> Okay.

11:03Um, item 12.

11:05Any objections?

11:07Any discussion?

11:09Please call the roll.

11:10>> All in favor? [clears throat]

11:12Aye. Opposed? Unanimous.

11:14>> Item 13. Any objections?

11:17Any discussion? Please call the roll.

11:20>> All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous.

11:23>> Item

11:25uh, 14. Any objections?

11:28Any discussion?

11:30Please call the roll.

11:31>> All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Unanimous.

11:34>> Item 15. Any objections?

11:38Any discussion?

11:40Please call the roll.

11:41>> Calls.

11:44All in favor?

11:45Opposed? Unanimous.

11:47>> Item

11:4815.

11:49>> Yes. Yeah.

11:50>> Any objections?

11:52Any discussion?

11:54Please call the roll.

11:55>> All in favor?

11:56Opposed? Unanimous.

11:58>> Item 16. Any objections?

12:02Any discussion?

12:03Please call the roll.

12:05>> All in favor?

12:06>> [clears throat]

12:06>> Opposed? Unanimous.

12:08>> Item [cough] 17. Any objections?

12:11Any discussion?

12:12Please call the roll.

12:14>> All in favor?

12:15Opposed? Unanimous.

12:16>> Item 18.

12:18>> [clears throat]

12:18>> Any objections?

12:20Any discussion? Please call the roll.

12:22>> All in favor?

12:24Opposed?

12:26>> Opposed.

12:27Item 18.

12:28>> Item 18.

12:30>> You're opposing to 18?

12:31>> I'm opposing 18.

12:32>> Okay.

12:33Anything?

12:34>> I don't know.

12:35>> Everyone else is in favor?

12:37>> Yes.

12:37>> Yes.

12:38>> Okay, the item passes with it eight to

12:40one vote.

12:42>> All right, Spray and Write.

12:43>> Opposing.

12:45>> Try um item 19. Any objections?

12:50Any discussion?

12:52>> [clears throat]

12:52>> Please call the roll.

12:53>> All in favor?

12:55Opposed? Unanimous.

12:56>> Item 20. Any objections? [clears throat]

13:00Any discussion?

13:01Please call the roll.

13:02>> All in favor?

13:04Opposed? Unanimous.

13:05>> Item 21. Any objections?

13:09Any discussion?

13:10Please call the roll.

13:11>> All in favor?

13:13Opposed? Unanimous.

13:14>> Item 22. Any objections?

13:18Any discussion?

13:20Please call the roll.

13:21>> All in favor?

13:22Opposed? Unanimous.

13:24>> Item 23. [clears throat]

13:25Any objections?

13:27Any discussion?

13:29Please call the roll.

13:30>> All in favor?

13:31>> Aye.

13:31>> Opposed? Unanimous.

13:33>> Thank you, Counselor [clears throat]

13:35Aaron Wreck.

13:36>> Thank you, Madam President. I have items

13:3724 through 29. I would like to introduce

13:40them and urge their adoption.

13:42>> Thank you. Item 24. Any objections?

13:46Any discussion?

13:47Please call the roll.

13:48>> All in favor?

13:49>> Aye.

13:50>> Opposed? Unanimous.

13:51>> Item 25. Any objections? [clears throat]

13:55Any discussion?

13:56Please call the roll.

13:57>> All in favor?

13:58>> Aye.

13:59>> Opposed? Unanimous.

14:01>> Item 26. Any objections? Any discussion?

14:05Please call the roll.

14:06>> All in favor?

14:07>> Aye.

14:08>> Opposed? Unanimous. [snorts]

14:10>> Item 27. Any objections?

14:13Any discussion?

14:14Please call the roll.

14:15>> All in favor?

14:16>> Aye.

14:17>> Opposed? Unanimous.

14:18>> Item 28. Any objections?

14:22Any discussion?

14:24Please call the roll.

14:25>> All in favor?

14:26>> Aye.

14:27>> Opposed? Unanimous.

14:30>> Item 29. Any objections?

14:33Any discussion?

14:35Please call the roll.

14:36>> All in favor?

14:37>> Aye.

14:38>> Opposed? Unanimous.

14:39>> Thank you, Counselor Moore.

14:41>> Thank you, Madam President. I have items

14:4230 through 33. Item 30 will be

14:45withdrawn.

14:4731 through 33 I would like to introduce

14:49and urge its their adoption.

14:51>> Thank you. Item 30 will be withdrawn.

14:55Item 31. Any objections?

14:58>> [clears throat]

14:59>> Any discussion?

15:01Please call the roll.

15:02>> All in favor?

15:03>> Aye.

15:03>> Opposed? Unanimous.

15:05>> Item 32. Any objections?

15:08Any discussion? Please call the roll.

15:11>> All in favor?

15:11>> Aye.

15:12>> Opposed? Unanimous.

15:14>> Item 33. Any objections?

15:17Any discussion?

15:18Please [clears throat] call the roll.

15:19>> All in favor?

15:20>> Aye.

15:21>> Opposed? Unanimous.

15:23>> Thank you, Councillor Williams.

15:24>> Thank you, Madam President and all of

15:25them 34 through 38. I would like to

15:27introduce and urge their adoption.

15:29>> Thank you.

15:30Item 34,

15:32>> [clears throat]

15:32>> any objections?

15:34Any discussion?

15:35Please call the roll.

15:36>> All in favor?

15:38I oppose. Unanimous.

15:39>> Item 35, any objections?

15:43Any discussions? Please call the roll.

15:45>> All in favor?

15:47I oppose. Unanimous.

15:48>> Item 36, any objections?

15:51Any discussion?

15:53Please call the roll.

15:54>> All in favor? I

15:55oppose. Unanimous.

15:57>> Item 37, any objections?

16:00Any discussion?

16:02Please call the roll.

16:03>> All in favor? I

16:05oppose. Unanimous.

16:06>> Item 38, any objections?

16:10Any discussion?

16:12Call the roll.

16:12>> All in favor?

16:14I oppose. Unanimous.

16:15>> Thank you, Councillor Montel.

16:17>> Thank you, Madam President Paniagua. I

16:19have items 39 through 46. I will hold 46

16:23for further deliberation.

16:25Uh 39 through 45, I will introduce and

16:27urge their adoption.

16:31>> I'm sorry. I'm I You're holding 46 and

16:3440

16:34>> 46. Just 46.

16:38>> All right.

16:38>> [clears throat]

16:39>> Councillor Montel, uh life and I'm

16:41sorry.

16:42Item 39, any objections?

16:46Any discussion?

16:48Please call the roll.

16:49>> All in favor? I oppose. Unanimous.

16:53>> Item 40, any objections? Any discussion?

16:57Please call the roll.

16:58>> All in favor?

17:00I oppose. Unanimous.

17:01>> Item 41.

17:05Item 49 A 41.

17:10Any objec- Any objections?

17:13Any discussion?

17:15>> Discussion.

17:20>> What is

17:20>> Okay.

17:21Um today I'm voting to revoke the

17:23special use permit because of what I

17:25believe the record before us shows.

17:27We've listened to the public, reviewed

17:29additional evidence, and looked closely

17:31at the permit requirements and the

17:33impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

17:36My vote is based on those zoning

17:37responsibilities and the evidence

17:39presented to us, not on the separate

17:41court case.

17:42Thank you.

17:44>> Any additional discussion?

17:46>> President [clears throat] Pedriani. Um

17:47for the record, the issues before the

17:49court are unrelated to the special use

17:51permit. The issues before the court deal

17:53solely with the city's permitting

17:54process.

17:55Based on a review of the materials

17:56submitted in the zoning administrator

17:58Dishaw's report requesting revocation,

18:00upon comments received during the

18:02September 9th, 2026 public hearing,

18:05upon written comments submitted by

18:07various community members, and upon the

18:09September 21st, 2026 committee meeting

18:11regarding the Westcott Theater, the

18:13Common Council finds that 524 to 532

18:16Westcott Theater has failed to abide by

18:18the terms and conditions in its special

18:20permit, and hereby votes to revoke the

18:22special use permit named SP-08-08

18:26previously issued to 524-532

18:29Westcott Street.

18:31>> Any additional discussion?

18:33>> Yes, Madam President. It's a district

18:35councilor.

18:37All citizens of the Syrac- city of

18:39Syracuse have a right to peaceful, safe,

18:43clean neighborhoods.

18:47I was

18:48opposed to a gentleman spoke 2 weeks ago

18:53when he criticized us when we revoked

18:56Tommy's bar on Wolf Street. There was a

18:59reason why that was revoked.

19:02And I join my I join my fellow

19:05councilors in revoking this permit.

19:07Thank you.

19:09>> Any additional discussion?

19:12>> I just wanted to say a few words before

19:14we move on to today's vote and

19:16acknowledge what I think is obvious.

19:19This is This has not been an easy

19:21decision.

19:23We take We have taken the time to listen

19:26to all interested parties and carefully

19:28consider what has been presented to us.

19:32We value the years the Westcott has

19:36operated as a theater. Most of that time

19:39without the issues we are confronting

19:41today.

19:42What we want in in the end is a theater

19:46that lifts up this neighborhood, is a

19:49good and respectful neighborhood, and is

19:51a place where performers, patrons, and

19:54residents all feel safe.

19:57This vote is not a vote against the arts

20:00or against having a theater at at this

20:02location. It is about ensuring that a

20:05venue we value also lives up to the

20:08responsibility

20:10to the community and around it.

20:12>> Madam President, I concur

20:14with your remarks and with Montana's

20:15remarks.

20:17>> Okay. So,

20:19please call the vote.

20:20>> All in favor?

20:20>> Aye.

20:21>> Any opposed?

20:22>> It's unanimous.

20:24>> Okay.

20:26And item 42,

20:29any objections?

20:32Any discussion?

20:34Please call the roll.

20:35>> All in favor?

20:36>> Aye.

20:38>> Any opposed?

20:38>> [clears throat]

20:39>> It's unanimous.

20:40>> Item 43, any objections?

20:44Any discussion?

20:46Please call the roll.

20:47>> All in favor?

20:48>> Aye.

20:49>> Any opposed?

20:49>> It's unanimous.

20:51>> Item 44,

20:53any objections?

20:55Any discussion?

20:56Please call the the vote.

20:58>> All in favor?

20:59>> Aye.

21:00>> Any opposed?

21:00>> It's unanimous.

21:01>> Item 45,

21:03any objections? [clears throat]

21:06Any discussion?

21:07>> Yes, Madam President.

21:09>> Go ahead.

21:09>> As District Councilor,

21:12we have [clears throat] a few smoking

21:13establishments in my Common Council

21:16District,

21:17and this would be the third on North

21:19Salina Street in an area where people

21:22are living in poverty,

21:24waiting for their only meal of the day

21:26at the

21:28Assumption Food Pantry.

21:30And we have the Samaritan Center.

21:33So, we we do have people

21:35uh who are hurting.

21:38And I have nothing against this

21:40establishment. I do not know the owners.

21:42I do not know the applicant.

21:44But I have to remember and think those

21:47who I represent on and on this Common

21:49Council, where those in need and those

21:52who are struggling with their

21:53addictions.

21:55And

21:56with

21:57with no disrespect to the owner or the

21:59applicant of the building, I'm going to

22:01vote no. Thank you.

22:04>> Please call the vote.

22:06>> All in favor?

22:07>> Aye.

22:07>> Opposed?

22:09>> Nay.

22:09>> No.

22:10>> I vote I voted no.

22:12>> I'm sorry, not

22:148-1, item passes.

22:18Item 46 [clears throat] will be We're

22:21holding 46.

22:22>> Yes.

22:23>> All right. So, we go into our

22:25supplemental agenda, Councilor Aaron

22:27Wright.

22:27>> Madam President, I would like to make a

22:29motion to waive the rules and introduce

22:31these items.

22:32>> Second.

22:32>> Second.

22:34>> All in favor?

22:34>> Aye.

22:36>> Opposed?

22:37>> Unanimous.

22:37>> Um which items are you um making a

22:39motion for?

22:40>> I make a motion for 47, 48, and

22:44I believe 49 is being held.

22:45>> 40

22:46>> Well, 40 and 49.

22:48>> Okay.

22:49All right.

22:50>> 49 is okay. [clears throat]

22:51>> Yeah.

22:51>> All right, we're good.

22:52>> All right. Item 47, any objections?

22:57Any discussion?

22:59Please call the roll.

23:00>> All in favor?

23:01All opposed? Unanimous.

23:03>> Item [clears throat]

23:0548.

23:07Any objections?

23:09Any discussion?

23:11Please call the vote.

23:11>> All in favor? All opposed? Unanimous.

23:15>> Item 49 will be held.

23:20Do we need to go through the same

23:21motion?

23:23>> No, you don't have to go through the

23:24same motions.

23:26>> I'd like to make a motion to waive the

23:27rules for item 49.

23:30>> Second.

23:31>> It doesn't need a second again, but we

23:33just need to

23:34>> I'm going to hold 49.

23:35>> You need to resend it. Yes.

23:36>> I'll ask what we're going to do with 49.

23:39>> I'll introduce 49 and hold it.

23:41>> Thank you. Item 49 will be held.

23:45Okay, this concludes our agenda for

23:46today.

23:48A motion to adjourn.

23:49>> So moved.

23:50>> Second.

23:51>> Oh, it's so close.

23:52>> All in favor?

23:53>> Aye.