Common Council Meeting April 15th, 2026

The City of Utica Common Council meeting on April 15, 2026, focused heavily on proposed ordinances related to vacant and derelict property registries. Council members and city officials discussed amendments to local laws aimed at improving code compliance and addressing neighborhood blight by establishing registries and associated fees for property owners who fail to maintain their properties. The discussion included concerns about fee levels, appeals processes, and the administrative burden on city departments. The council voted to move forward with the vacant and derelict property registry ordinances, with some members expressing intent to revisit fee structures in the future. Additional procurement-related actions included approval of several ENA (Expenditure Authorization) transfers for fiscal year 2025-26, authorizing contract-related budget allocations for services, office expenses, and equipment totaling tens of thousands of dollars. The council also authorized the sale of ten police department vehicles and extended a moratorium on battery storage facilities pending further study. A special committee meeting was scheduled to clarify budget transfer details related to paving projects funded by bonds. Overall, the meeting addressed multiple procurement and budgetary matters alongside policy discussions on property maintenance enforcement.