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The Syracuse City Common Council approved the extension of the city’s contract with VeoRide Inc. to extend its bike and scooter sharing service through Sept. 2027 during its Monday afternoon meeting.

The agreement is part of the Syracuse Sync program, a bike share program that provides scooters and e-bikes to locals without any cost to the city. The program restarted in 2021 with Veo after ending in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the agreement, Veo provides system planning, equipment maintenance, customer service and registration and data collection.

Councilors also voted to extend city contracts with the Good Life Youth Foundation, Salvation Army and Northside Learning Center as part of Mayor Ben Walsh’s Syracuse Safer Streets Community Violence Intervention program through March 31, 2025.

The Safer Streets program aims to provide mentorship, therapy, internships and job training to people identified as high-risk. The program aims to track, interrupt and solve conflicts between local gangs and prevent violence, according to the legislation.

The council held its vote on the program’s agreement with Project Helping Everyone Accept Love after the group announced their decision not to renew their contract on Sept. 23.

Project H.E.A.L. is a non-profit organization that provides free therapy and mentorship services to people impacted by the criminal justice system, according to its website. Despite the group’s decision to end its Syracuse Safer Streets contract, all five of its staff therapists previously said they wanted to continue working with the program’s participants.

During Monday’s meeting, the council approved multiple infrastructure projects, including initiatives to improve city sidewalks, local playgrounds and public parks.

The council granted the Department of Public Works permission to proceed with the City-Owned Sidewalks, Curbs and Corners Program, which aims to replace deteriorated street corners f0r improved accessibility. Sites for improvement will be chosen based on public complaints, community programs, and complementing projects, according to the council’s meeting agenda.

The program ensures the city complies with federal guidelines under the Americans with Disability Act regarding accessibility in public spaces. The council allocated $500,000 for the projects.

The Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs will receive $400,000 to install a new rubber safety surface at Skiddy Park playground in Westside Syracuse following a Monday council vote. It will also use the funds to improve playground equipment safety.

The council approved up to $100,000 to improve the conditions of Thornden Park’s picnic area, highlighting the need for new tables and replacing the existing shelter with an improved structure. The department will also use up to $1,000,000 to rehabilitate the Hanover Square Fountain, according to the council’s new legislation.

Other business

• The council again delayed its vote on determining the protected designation status of 727 Comstock Ave., the former fraternity house Syracuse University previously planned to demolish as part of a dormitory construction proposal. The site is no longer included in the university’s construction plans.
• The council approved up to $320,000 for the Spirit of Jubilee Stage Project, which includes up to $160,000 to make the design more ADA accessible and to keep up with the rising cost of building materials. The project is set to build a new, multi-purpose events stage by fall 2025.

Published on September 30, 2024 at 11:11 pm