Update from Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri & Utica Comptroller Bill Morehouse

City officials have engaged in ongoing communication and coordination with partners in the federal, state and county government, as well as the community regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

The first priority of city government is the safety and wellbeing of its workforce and the public.

Based on the facts of this continuously evolving situation, the city is issuing an emergency order and taking the following actions effective immediately;

• City Hall will be closed to the public until further notice. Residents can call or e-mail the appropriate city department for all other inquiries. A directory for all city departments can be found at cityofutica.com.

• The Utica Common Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Friday March 20th at 9:30am in Council Chambers in regards to the FY 2020-2021 budget. This meeting will be closed to the public. Any public comments can be submitted to the City Clerk Melissa Sciortino at mrsciortino@cityofutica.com by 4:30 on Thursday March 19th.

• The Parkway Recreation Center will be closed and all programs will be cancelled until further notice. Seniors who receive meals through programs at the Recreation Center will have them delivered to their home (same for the seniors who attend the North Utica Senior Center which is also closed until further notice).

• The Codes Department will limit interior residential inspections to those that pose a potential danger. Exterior and job-site inspections will continue. Permits and permit applications issued by the Codes Department should be mailed or e-mailed when

• The Section 8 Office will not be conducting interior inspections until further

• All city issued recreation permits are suspended until further

• All city parks will fall under the federal guidelines of having no gatherings of more than 50 people until further

• All convenience stores that don’t sell gasoline can only operate from 6:00am-11:00pm until further

• The Comptroller’s Office will be closed to the public until further notice. Residents can pay their taxes, as well as any county, city, school or solid waste bills on-line at cityofutica.com or by mailing a check to the City of Utica Comptroller’s Office at 1 Kennedy Plaza Utica, New York 13502. No interest or penalties will be imposed for FY 2020-2021 city and solid waste bills in which payments are postmarked before May 31st, 2020.

In addition, the Utica Police Department (UPD) will be implementing the following procedures;

Reported Calls

• When UPD receives a dispatch for a police report, the caller will be put in contact with an Officer over the telephone. An investigation and appropriate follow up will proceed once the report is

• UPD will continue to patrol city streets and respond to all emergency calls and crimes in progress as it normally

• For calls in which an Officer must respond, UPD will ask individuals, whenever possible, to meet Officers outside their homes or place of business. This policy will foster a safer environment and help reduce possible exposure for the resident and the

Visitors to the Police Station

• The UPD lobby will have restricted access until further notice. Anyone who needs to enter the police department will be able to do so through the vestibule area from the Oriskany Boulevard entrance. Once inside the vestibule area, individuals will be able to interact with the desk Officer through an intercom. A determination of the need for service will be assessed on a case by case

• In an emergency, individuals are always encouraged to call

UPD will be suspending the following programs until further notice;

• Tours of the police station

• Ride Along Program

• Processing of Taxicab Licensing

• Fingerprints for pistol permits, employment, etc. (Court mandated fingerprinting will proceed as normal).

Similar to UPD, the Utica Fire Department (UFD) is implementing the following;

• All non-emergency appointments and inspections have been postponed until further notice

• No visitors will be allowed to enter any fire house

• Family members and/or friends will not be allowed to ride up in ambulances unless the patient is a minor until further

• 911 will be screening callers to see if they are experiencing flu like symptoms. For calls involving flu like symptoms individuals will be

asked, whenever possible, to meet UFD personnel outside of their home or place of business.

If you are experiencing flu like symptoms contact your primary physician. If you do not have a primary physician or do not have health insurance, please call the Upstate University Hospital COVID-19 hotline at 315-464-3979. The hotline is open from 7:00am-11:00pm.

The city will continue to monitor this situation and collaborate with all entities to ensure the safety and health of our community.