Rye could be taking the first step toward fixing one of modern life’s most frustrating problems: spotty cell service.

The City Council will vote Wednesday, July 15, on a $36,000 contract with CityScape Consultants to study the city’s wireless telecommunications needs and identify potential improvements to coverage and small-cell tower placement.

The proposal would launch the first phase of a Wireless Telecommunications Infrastructure Plan, with funding coming from the city’s General Fund Contingency Account.

CityScape, a firm that works with municipalities on wireless planning, has previously helped northern Westchester communities evaluate wireless gaps and recommend locations for new infrastructure. Its earlier regional study identified areas needing additional macro cell sites and small wireless facilities while considering neighborhood aesthetics.

Rye has not released details on what locations or coverage issues will be studied during Phase 1, but the review could help guide future decisions about where new wireless equipment should be placed.

Other items on the agenda

The council will also consider applying for up to $5 million in state funding for the replacement of the Locust Avenue Bridge, a 1928 structure over Blind Brook that has been identified as undersized and a contributor to flooding concerns in the Central Business District.

Rye has already received a $5 million BRIDGE NY grant toward the project, which City Manager Greg Usry has estimated could cost nearly $10 million. The city’s new application is through the Resilient Investments through Support and Capital (RISC) Grant Program, which uses federal Hurricane Ida recovery funding.

The meeting will also include:

  • A first-half 2026 financial update from City Comptroller Joe Fazzino
  • A presentation of the 2025 audited financials from auditor Jonathan Gibbs of BST & Co.
  • An update on Rye’s comprehensive plan process, which is moving forward during the city’s six-month Central Business District development moratorium

The City Council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at the Locust Avenue Firehouse. City Hall remains closed during HVAC renovations.

The meeting will air on Optimum Channel 1310 and Verizon Channel 39 and stream live at ryeny.gov.