Syracuse DPW committee reviews proposed LAZ Parking contract, EV chargers and study of aging garages

City officials and LAZ Parking representatives on Tuesday discussed a proposed contract for LAZ to operate four Syracuse municipal garages — Washington Street Garage, Fayette Street Garage, Madison‑Irving Garage and the Center/Armory facility — and outlined related investments in EV charging, security and a longer-term study of garage infrastructure.

The discussion matters because the garages are a recurring source of downtown parking, revenue and maintenance costs; the city faces aging structures and competing pressures as highway and redevelopment projects alter parking supply. Staff described a draft contract that would mirror the previous agreement, with a three‑year base term and two optional two‑year renewals requiring Common Council approval, and noted LAZ proposed investing in beautification and EV infrastructure as part of the agreement.

Connor Mardoon, the city’s chief operations officer, said LAZ has operated the city portfolio “since 02/2009” and that the proposed deal would closely follow the prior contract structure. Mardoon told the committee LAZ was the lowest bidder on staffing, operating expenses, management fees and equipment, and that LAZ would invest $100,000 of its own funds for entry‑level beautification across the garage…