Council committee recommends LAZ to operate four city garages; staff proposes consultant to study parking assets

City staff told the Syracuse City Common Council that an RFP for operation of four city-owned parking garages — Washington Street, Fayette, Madison‑Irving and Center Armory — returned three bids and that an RFP committee, which included council members, unanimously selected LAZ as the preferred vendor.

Staff said LAZ was the lowest bidder for multiple cost categories and agreed to invest $100,000 in entry-floor beautification and landscaping across the garage portfolio and to bear the project management costs for EV charger installations at Fayette, Madison and Irving garages valued at about $25,000. The proposed contract is for three years with two two‑year renewal options, and renewals would require council approval.

Councilors discussed broader long‑term questions about parking assets, including the potential effect of the I‑81 project on parking supply and demand, the possibility of capital improvements, and whether some garages might be repurposed or demolished in the long run. Staff recommended issuing a scope of work to a consultant to evaluate urban planning and financial scenarios for the garages and to help estimate costs and revenues for capital improvements.

Councilor Gathers and other members suggested a joint committee meeting to consider a consultant scope and to examine neighborhood impacts. Staff noted no immediate changes to operations are planned; the LAZ selection was presented as the preferred operator based on the RFP results.

No final council roll-call vote on the vendor selection was recorded in the public transcript during this session.