Watertown City Hall publishes a lot, but it's spread across an 18-page City Manager Update, council agendas that run hundreds of pages, and minutes posted weeks later. This is the short version: what was decided, what's coming up, and what's open for local businesses. Every item links to the city's own document.
Covers: City Manager Update of Oct. 9, the Oct. 19 City Council meeting, and agendas posted for Nov. 2–3.
Coming up
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Mon., Nov. 2, 7 p.m. | City Council meeting. Public hearing at 7:15 p.m. on rezoning part of 465 Flower Ave. West (Ives Hill) | Council Chambers, City Hall, 245 Washington St. Streamed on Rumble |
| Tue., Nov. 3, 5:15 p.m. | Planning Commission: three permit requests on State St. and Coffeen St. (below) | Council Chambers. Use the Sterling St. entrance |
| Wed., Nov. 4 | Bid deadline: hydro facility control upgrade (below) | City Purchasing |
| Sat., Nov. 7, 9 a.m. | Tree Watertown volunteer planting: 55 trees at Marble St. Park and on Marble and Water Streets | Near Hale's Garage, 1067 Marble St. |
| Mon., Nov. 9, 7 p.m. | City Council work session | Council Chambers |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Deadline to file property tax exemption applications | Assessor's Office |
Monday's vote: rezoning at Ives Hill
Ives Hill Country Club 465, LLC has asked the city to rezone a 1.7-acre piece of 465 Flower Avenue West from Residential to Neighborhood Mixed Use. On Oct. 6 the Planning Commission voted down a motion to recommend it. The City Council holds a public hearing Monday at 7:15 p.m. and can still approve it. Residents can speak at the hearing. (hearing notice)
Open for local businesses
The city lists its bids in the City Manager Update. To download the specifications you need a free vendor account on the city's EvoBid portal.
| Bid | Deadline | What the city is buying |
|---|---|---|
| #2026-19: Hydro facility headwater PLC control modernization, phase 2 | Nov. 4, 2026 | Labor, materials and equipment to upgrade the hydro facility's control system, design and install a headwater control panel, radio links to the city network, and bypass sensor wiring, at several locations (bid 564) |
Closed in October, for reference: contracted hauling services (#2026-20) and a police forensic photography system (#2026-21). The Thompson Park golf course lease (RFP #2026-11) is covered below.
Purchasing contact: Tina Bartlett-Bearup, (315) 785-7749, [email protected].
What the Council decided on Oct. 19
- Thompson Park golf course. The city received one proposal to lease and run the course, from Jefferson County Business Services, Inc. Council authorized staff to negotiate only: any lease comes back to Council for approval, and it also needs a state law change (Council also approved asking the State Legislature for that). The offer is a one-year term. Council members asked for a seat on the negotiating team and questioned a one-year lease and the proposal's organic-only grass treatment.
- Water rules. Council passed a local law amending Chapter 301 (Water) of the City Code, after a public hearing.
- Tax foreclosures. Council chose Bond, Schoeneck & King as the city's tax foreclosure attorney and updated the foreclosure fees in the city's fee schedule.
- Help for first-time buyers. Council approved the 2026 Homebuyer Program agreement with Neighbors of Watertown, Inc., funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant.
- Parks. Council endorsed applying for up to $500,000 from the state DEC to remove invasive woody plants in Bicentennial, Thompson and Waterworks parks.
- Roof repairs. Design contracts went to GYMO for new roofs on the Zoo New York visitor center and the water distribution building.
- Also: a city social media policy, year-end budget adjustments, and a staff report backing the demolition of 383 Flower Ave. East.
From the public floor: hockey and figure skating parents asked for clear rules on ice time at the arena. Council Member Garrabrant said Council shouldn't referee disputes between clubs, but should keep the issue in mind the next time ice allotment is discussed. He also announced a Neighborhood Watch meeting at the Church of the Nazarene, with the police liaison attending.
Planning Commission, Nov. 3
Three requests for a Special Use Permit in Neighborhood Mixed Use districts:
- 1655 State St.: State CS Employees Federal Credit Union, to amend its permit to allow an office use.
- 1543 State St.: Expert Properties, LLC, to allow auto repair.
- 527 Coffeen St.: First Choice Real Estate, LLC, to allow an office.
Public hearings start at 5:20 p.m. (agenda)
Worth knowing
- Water plant outage, Oct. 7. The water filtration plant lost power just after 3:20 p.m. The backup generator kept water flowing, but a power surge damaged a high-lift pump, and the plant ran below full capacity until repairs on Oct. 8. Water service continued throughout.
- Dark traffic lights. The city reminds drivers that an intersection with dead signals is a four-way stop.
- Winter prep. Public Works is finishing paving and sidewalk repairs and readying snow equipment.
The original documents
- City Manager Update, Oct. 9, 2026 (PDF, 18 pages)
- Oct. 19 City Council minutes and agenda
- All city meetings and agendas
WBA reads City Hall's documents so you don't have to. We summarize; the city's documents are the official record.