§ 38-2. The duties and powers of the city of Syracuse relative to the special assessment district.

1.

The city of Syracuse shall have the following powers with respect to the special assessment district herein created:

Construction and installation of landscaping, planting and park area; construction of lighting and heating facilities; construction and operation of facilities such as: Places of amusement and entertainment, bus stop shelters, decorative lighting, benches and street furniture, sculptures, paintings, murals, and other works of art, booths, signs, news and music facilities, fire hydrants, kiosks, receptacles, canopies, pedestrian shelters, display cases, fountains, public rest rooms, booths for retail sales, information booths, exhibits, and such other fixtures, equipment facilities and appurtenances which might enhance the movement, safety, convenience, and enjoyment of the public and be of economic benefit to surrounding properties; construction of pedestrian overpasses and underpasses and connections between buildings; closing or opening, widening or narrowing of existing streets; condemnation of existing structures where necessary in order to carry out special district purposes; construction of ramps, sidewalks, plazas and pedestrian malls; rehabilitation or removal of existing structures as required; removal and relocation of utilities and vaults as required; providing and coordinating parking lot and parking garage facilities within the special district in order to secure maximum availability of public parking; providing for the operation and maintenance of any such district improvements; providing for additional maintenance and/or police personnel as required for the enjoyment and protection of the public; granting of permits to newsstands, restaurants, entertainment facilities and other desirable private uses and making appropriate charges for such private uses; providing for additional maintenance or other additional services required for the enjoyment and protection of the public and the promotion and enhancement of the district whether or not in conjunction with district improvements as hereinbefore authorized by this section; and such other powers as may be necessary to carry out the improvement, maintenance, promotion, enhancement, and operation of the special district.

2.

The city of Syracuse by ordinance of the common council may amend the boundaries of the special assessment district after a public hearing held by the council at least ten (10) days prior to the passage of the ordinance amending the existing district.

3.

The city of Syracuse may construct capital improvements within such special assessment district.

4.

The city of Syracuse may assess properties within such district for the construction, operation and maintenance of improvements and for additional maintenance and other additional services required for the enjoyment and protection of the public and the promotion and enhancement of the district whether or not in connection with district improvements.

5.

The common council is authorized to acquire property incidental to the construction of capital improvements within the special district by condemning properties in accordance with the applicable statutes of the city of Syracuse and the state of New York.

6.

The city of Syracuse, for the purpose of realizing the funds and making capital improvements within said special assessment district, may from time to time as may be needed, issue and sell bonds or other municipal obligations as provided in the New York State Local Finance Law and other applicable state statutes. Principal and interest payments on such bonds or other municipal obligations may be made in whole or in part from the proceeds of assessments within the special district as hereinbefore provided. The city of Syracuse may, however, determine that the amount of such special district assessment for capital improvements shall be collected in equal installments over a period of years depending upon the period of probable usefulness of the capital improvement as set forth in the local finance law.

7.

The city of Syracuse may incur and finance the annual costs of improving, operating, promoting, enhancing and maintaining the special district during any fiscal year if in its discretion it shall be deemed necessary to provide for such annual improvements or operation, promotion, enhancements or maintenance prior to the succeeding fiscal year, so long as the various amounts to be expended have been approved as part of the annual special district budget and are to be collected during such succeeding fiscal year.

(Gen. Ord. No. 27-1975, 8-27-75; Gen. Ord. No. 53, § 2, 12-27-88)