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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CC-2025-02-05YouTube Link:https://tinyurl.com/mr34ez9h Date: Location: Wednesday February 5, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers 2-5-2025 COMMON COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Voting Record 1.Call to Order 1.1 Emergency Evacuation 1.2 Agenda Review 1.3 Reports From Municipal Officials Attendance Record of Voting Members Name Present Absent/Excused Mayor - Robert Cantelmo X 1st Ward - Kayla Matos X 1st Ward - Phoebe Brown X 2nd Ward - Ducson Nguyen X 2nd Ward - Kris Haines-Sharp X 3rd Ward - David Shapiro X 3rd Ward - Pierre Saint-Perez X 4th Ward - Patrick Kuehl X 4th Ward - Tiffany Kumar X 5th Ward - Margaret Fabrizio X 5th Ward - Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: The February 5th 2025 meeting of the Ithaca Common Council has been called to order. All members of Council are present for the meeting. Timestamp 1:01-1:07 Discussion Summary: The Emergency Evacuation Notice is read for members of the public in attendance. Mayor Cantelmo acknowledged events that took place in the City of Ithaca involving the presence of Federal Law Enforcement and Federal Immigration Officers executing an arrest warrant and addressed the concern and fear caused in the community by their tactics. Mayor Cantelmo. Timestamp 1:12- 3:35 Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo added appointments to the Controller Search Group, appointments to the Superintendent of Public Works Search group, and the new staff appointment to the Ethics Advisory Board to the agenda. Timestamp 3:38- 4:16 Discussion Summary: Report from Tompkins County Legislator Veronica Pillar. Timestamp 4:21-9:37 2.Proclamations and Awards 3.Review and Approval of Minutes 3.1 1-8-25 CC Minutes, 1-15-25 COW minutes, 1-22-25 COW Minutes 4.Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council 4.1 Public Hearing- A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Disability Exemption" Discussion Summary: No Proclamations or Awards were presented. Discussion Summary: Minutes from the January 2025 Common Council and Committee of the Whole Meetings were approved. Alderperson Kuehl is temporarily away from the vote to participate in Statements from the Public. Timestamp 9:41-9:54 Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: David Shapiro Motion Summary: Approval of the 1-8-25 Common Council Minutes, 1-15-25 COW Meeting Minutes, and the 1-22-25 COW Meeting Minutes. Moved by Alderperson Saint-Perez, seconded by Alderperson. The vote carried 10-0 with alderperson Kuehl temporarily away from the vote. Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: A Public Hearing was held on the Local Law Amending the City Code on Tax Exemptions for Persons with Disabilities. Timestamp 9:59-10:26 Moved By: Clyde Lederman Seconded By: Tiffany Kumar Motion Summary: Motion to Open the Public Hearing; moved by Alderperson Lederman, and seconded by Alderperson Kumar, the vote carried 10-0 with Alderperson Kuehl away from the vote. Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously 4.2 Statements from the Public Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Moved By: Kayla Matos Seconded By: Tiffany Kumar Motion Summary: Motion to Close the Public; moved by Alderperson Matos, and seconded by Alderperson Kumar, the vote carried 10-0 with Alderperson Kuehl away from the vote. Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Members of the public came out to talk to share their thoughts and concerns about the following topics, due to the number of speakers present, each speaker was allowed 2 minutes to comment. *Written comments have been included and affixed in the minutes. Timestamp 10:27-1:06:12 Sanctuary City Policy Housing EMS Response The Presence of ICE Audits Homeless Camps Squeaky Clean Carwash The Death of Roland Hoyt: Proposal for Mobile Warming Stations LGBTQ Concerns Public Employees 4.3 Privilege Of The Floor- Comments From Council and The Mayor 5.Consent Agenda Discussion Summary: Council members thanked all who came out to speak. Council responded to the City Residents and community members who spoke to the ICE events taking place in the city and reaffirming Ithaca as a Sanctuary City. The mayor shared with the public a memo received during the meeting, from the United States Attorney General's Office announcing to defunding any State and Local Jurisdictions unlawfully interfering with federal law enforcement operations Timestamp 1:06:14- 1:23:50 Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo asked for a motion to move Consent Agenda items 5.1-5.3 which includes the Sanctuary City resolution. Alderperson Saint-Perez moved for a 5 minute Recess to allow members of the public the opportunity to clear the room after. Council was asked to remain seated. Timestamp 1:23:55- 1:24:37 Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Kris Haines-Sharp Motion Summary: Motion to Approve Consent Agenda Items 5.1-5.3. Moved by Alderperson Saint-Perez and seconded by Alderperson Matos. Consent agenda passed unanimously 11-0. Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Abstain Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Kayla Matos Motion Summary: 5 Minute Recess. Moved by Alderperson Saint-Perez, Seconded by Alderperson Matos. Motion carried 10-1 with Alderperson Kuehl against. Vote Passed 10-1 5.1 A Resolution to Declare Lead Agency- 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction 5.2 Cargill Environmental Impact Statement 5.3 Resolution- Ithaca a Sanctuary City 6.New Business / Member Filed 6.1 Local Law- Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code "Disability Exemption" Member Approve Oppose Abstain Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Local law was moved and summarized by Alderperson Lederman. No further discussion on the Local Law. Mayor Cantelmo called a Roll Call vote. Timestamp 1:29:46-1:30:48 Moved By: Clyde Lederman Seconded By: Kayla Matos Motion Summary: Motion to approve Local Law- Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code "Disability Exemption". Moved by Alderperson Lederman Seconded by Alderperson Matos. Carried Unanimously 11-0 by Roll Call Vote. Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously 6.2 Ordinance-Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Senior Citizens Exemption" 7.Mayor Appointments 7.1 Advisory Committee on Encampment Response Protocol Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Ordinance was moved and summarized by Alderperson Saint-Perez. Not further discussion on the motion. Timestamp 1:30:52-1:31:16 Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Margaret Fabrizio Motion Summary: Motion to approve Ordinance-Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Senior Citizens Exemption". Moved by Alderperson Saint- Perez, Seconded by Alderperson Fabrizio; Carried Unanimously 11-0. Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo noted that the Advisory Ad Hoc Committee was established at a previous council meeting and is here for information purposes only. Alderperson Saint-Perez pointed out that the initial declaration had a "To Be Announced" member and asked that the identity of that 7.2 Recommendation To TCAT member be made public. Mayor Cantelmo then turned the discussion over to the City Manager who identified the new Response Encampment Coordinator as Kanij Fateema Timestamp 1:31:16-1:32:26 Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo recommends Professor Nick Klein, a transportation professor at Cornell University and resident of Fall Creek to fill a vacancy on the TCAT board representing the city for a three-year term expiring December 31, 2027, Timestamp 1:32:27-1:32:48 Moved By: Robert Cantelmo Seconded By: Motion Summary: Motion to Recommend Professor Nick Klein to Tompkins County Consolidated Area Transit Board. Moved by Mayor Cantelmo with no formal second. All in Favor of recommendation. Carries Unanimously 11-0 Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X 7.3 Appointment to the Search Committee Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo appointed himself, Alderperson Nguyen, and Alderperson Fabrizio to the Search Committee for City Controller. Alderpersons Lederman, Saint-Perez, and Haines-Sharp are appointed to the Superintendent of Public Works search committee. Timestamp 1:32:54- 1:33:30 Moved By: Robert Cantelmo Seconded By: Motion Summary: Moved as a batch- move to appoint Mayor Cantelmo, Alderperson Nguyen, and Alderperson Fabrizio to the City Controller's Search Committee. Motion to appoint Alderperson Lederman, Alderperson Saint-Perez, and Alderperson Haines-Sharp to the Superintendent of Public's Work Search Committee. Moved by 8.Report of the City Manager 8.1 City Manager's Report- February 2025 Mayor Cantelmo, with no formal second. All in favor. Motion carried Unanimously 11-0 Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Deny Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X 7.4 Appointment to the Ethics Advisory Board Discussion Summary: Lisa Nicholas is appointed to the Ethics Advisory Board. Timestamp 1:33:33-1:34:26 Moved By: Robert Cantelmo Seconded By: Motion Summary: Move to appoint Lisa Nicholas to the Ethics Advisory Board. Moved by Mayor Cantelmo no formal second. Motion carries 10-1 with Alderperson Brown against. Vote Passed 10-1 Member Approve Deny Recuse Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: The City Manager's Report will be discussed at the next 9.Report of the City Controller 9.1 ARPA UPDATE 10.Executive Session (If Needed) Committee Meeting. Timestamp 1:34:34-1:36:42 Moved By: Patrick Kuehl Seconded By: Motion Summary: Alderperson Kuehl Motioned to Reconsider the appointment of Lisa Nicholas to the Advisory Board. No second to the motion, motion failed. Vote Lack of Second -0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Discussion Summary: No discussion on Report. Discussion and questions from Council will be considered at the next Committee meeting. Discussion Summary: Written report provided to Council. Discussion Summary: City Attorney Kessler informed Council there is a need for an Executive Session. Council moved into Executive Session. Council will not be returning with a vote at this time. The meeting adjourned after the mayor took the vote to move into Executive Session. Timestamp 1:36:51- 1:37:54 Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Kayla Matos Motion Summary: Motion to move into executive session to discuss potential real estate transaction. Moved by Alderperson Saint-Perez Seconded by Alderperson Matos. Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Abstain Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Moved By: Pierre Saint-Perez Seconded By: Kayla Matos 11.Meeting Wrap Up Motion Summary: Motion to Exit Executive Session. Moved by Alderperson Saint-Perez, Seconded by Alderperson Matos. Motion carried Unanimously 11-0 Vote Passed 11-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Abstain Robert Cantelmo X Kayla Matos X Phoebe Brown X Ducson Nguyen X Kris Haines-Sharp X David Shapiro X Pierre Saint-Perez X Patrick Kuehl X Tiffany Kumar X Margaret Fabrizio X Clyde Lederman X Discussion Summary: * Common Council resumed its proceedings with an additional motion following the executive session The discussion was not livestreamed to YouTube, but a transcript of an audio recording of the proceedings follows. February 5th 2025 Alderperson Kuehl moved to reconsider the appointment of Lisa Nicholas to the Ethics Advisory Board, Seconded by Alderperson Fabrizio. Council commenced debate on the motion to reconsider. The audio recording begins with Alderperson Kuehl… Alderperson Kuehl- “….. with appointing a senior staff to oversee the ethics advisory board of Common Council I think we’ve already seen this city [Mayor Cantelmo- “of the city” ]…of the city, Thank you, First of all I think we’ve already seen this year that, right or wrong and I choose to believe right , that we’ve had members of senior staff including the person we are appointing to the ethics advisory board, come and speak on topics against members of Council. And regardless of whether senior staff members should be appointed, which I disagree with, the ethics code says “Qualification: members of the board shall be chosen for their independence, mainly that’s the best big point, their integrity, civic commitment, and high ethical standards, and I think the other ones are totally applicable, but the person we’re appointing, and again I really like this person, I think they do great work, I think they’re a wonderful asset and the number of our city staff, but I do have serious, serious concerns and I’m sorry that I had to do this whole procedural thing it just went right over my head at the moment, I didn’t see it on the agenda. I don’t know if it’s on the agenda, but umm that’s my point.” Mayor Cantelmo- “Two things, One, this is the ethics advisory Board for the whole city, not the Council, which we did clarify but I want to just….so if the claim is that the independence has to be of anyone affiliated with the City, I would argue that you’re correct in the normative position that you hold that is shouldn’t be any staff members but I do want to say it is nothing t do with just Council, and then I would also say that I have kind of limited patience personally for this body again preventing the functioning of government like it does with the building fees which cant proceed until we have those in place, as the alderperson noted we cannot have our ethics advisory board meet nor can we have our can we have our disclosure forms reviewed until we have a quorum. Margaret…” Alderperson Fabrizio- …. “ Thank you Patrick for bringing that up and taking the initiative to find that. I would echo those concerns and Patrick said rightly or wrongly, I would say wrongly. I felt I was publicly called out by senior members of staff….I don’t think that should have been allowed.. for something… [ Mayor Cantelmo: “First Amendment] I didn’t even do and I was not allowed to even correct the record and I don’t I don’t feel like that was just something that should have happened I mean in terms of how professional performance happens and about collaboration and relationship building I think… Mayor Cantelmo- “ I want to be really clear we’re talking about the nomination and the First Amendment rights of the individual are not something that can be up for debate….[City Manager Mohlenhoff: “I’m also concerned you’re not publicly being aired [Mayor Cantelmo: “I agree”]…So you can just table this]…. but they, they have to, I mean this vote would have to be, this motion to reconsider would have to pass which is the thing we that we are debating right now, so if the Motion to reconsider fails then this conversation is over and then if the motion to reconsider passes you can move to table the appointment but I’m with the city manager this is wildly inappropriate to be talking about without any public engagement….[ City Attorney: “But Clyde is recording for the record ]….Okay thank you. Alderperson Kuehl- “I would just like to say first of all it is fully within our power per the Charter that we can vote on this. That it is perfectly within our power to reject your appointment…[Mayor Cantelmo- “yeah that’s not what I said”] saying that we reject an appointment is slowing or somehow on us for or railroading government or whatever, I don’t remember exactly what you said but I think that’s like a crazy accusation, second of all I agree with you this should have been on air. I am also looking at the agenda and it is not on the agenda, and again, I should have been more aware that this was happening, but there was no way for me to prepare comments about this because there are two Mayor Appointments to this on the agenda and this is not one of them. Audio Transcript Alderperson Brown- Yeah no, I just needed to, I voted, I voted down because I feel like we’re constantly being told how we don’t work close, we don’t work with the city employees and back and forth, but I’m feeling very much like, to hear your frustration and your impatience with us is also very daunting for me as a council member right, and to feel as if Lisa Nichols, who Iove dearly and she is amazing at her job. Could we share with somebody, is this the only person that came up to do this? Mayor Cantelmo- We have been trying to fill these two remaining slots for last year. [Brown- Ok] There’s Motion on the table, motion to reconsider, moved and seconded. All those in favor of reconsidering the previous question, those opposed, motion fails 3, 2, nope that’s not right, yeah, Three to Eight with Alderperson Brown, Fabrizio, and Kuehl in favor. Alderperson Fabrizio - “Motion to adjourn”. Mayor Cantelmo- “Second, Alderperson Shapiro, all those in favor, adjourned. [End of Audio] Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk Submitted- 3-5-2025 Adopted: il Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed ?/5/20?5 5:03 PM To Common Council <council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis <slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Jonathan Lam Last Name Lam Street Address Municipality .Note this may be different from your zip code State Topic of Discussion Your Comments New York Re-affirm lthaca's human rights commitment for protecting migrants Dear lthaca City Council members, Cornell American Civil Liberties Union and Cornell Anti- Detention Alliance are present today to advocate that the lthaca City Council vote to reaffirm the city's commitmenl to human rights protection for migranls. We reiterate our unwavering commitment to flghting for sanctuary city policies in lthaca and longstanding immigration laws at the federal level. The targeting and detention of marginalized individuals are emblematic of a profoundly unjust and punitive immigration system that is rooted in xenophobia and systemic oppression. Since his inauguration, the Trump Administration is currently targeting individuals with federal deportation orders, many of whom have criminal records. Just this past week, Jesus Romero-Hernandez, an immigrant and loved community member was arrested on West State Street at 2 PM on January 30th. This incident is a reminder of the ongoing unconstitutional criminalization and surveillance of immigrant communities. While ICE operations are framed as routine federal procedures, it is critical to acknowledge the broader implications of these 14853 Contact lnformation ar.ests- Such aclions contribute to a climate of fear and instability for undocumented individuals and their families. We urge our community members to stay informed and vigilant. Undocumented individuals, with or without pending cases for residency and no criminal records, are precluded from the Laken Riley Act signed by President Trump on January 29th and hence should not be targeted by ICE without a federal search warrant. As stated by the New York Civil Liberties Union, "The Trump administration cannot disregard the 'loth Amendment in its haste to carry out mass deportations. State law also prohibits law enforcement from detaining people for civil immigration violations. New Yorkers should be able to rely on lheir local law enforcement to keep them safe, not spend their time helping the Trump administration separate families." Therefore, we must keep lthaca a sanctuary city and welcome everyone regardless of their immigration status, background, and identity. lmmigrants have contributed to lthaca and Tompkins County's diversity and success. lmmigrants are our neighbors, workers, and community members. Families deserve to stay together and undocumented students deserve to safely receive an education wilhout worrying about ICE presence in their classrooms. We call for the lthaca City Council to reaffirm its commitment to protecting and upholding the human rights of immigrants and continue to ensure our community is safe for everyone. ln solidarity and the protection of civil Iiberties, Cornell ACLU and Cornell Anti-Detention Alliance .j14377@cornell.edu Email not displaying correctly? View it in ur browser. il Outloo k Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com > Date Wed 2/5/2025 4:53 PM To Common Council < council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis < slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Alejandro SantanaLast Name Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code State Topic of Discussion Your Comments NY 14850 lnlet Development My name is Alejandro Santana. A citizen of the United States of America, a long-time resident of lthaca, NY I have lived in this beautiful city for more than 25 years. I am a father to 4 lovely kids who have been in the lthaca city school district. I am a small business owner. I came here in front of you today as a private citizen and lthaca resident and I am deeply concerned with the lnlet Development and the future of a volunteer institution that during all of the planning of such a proJect hasn't been mentioned or given much attention and importance. I am referring to the Coast Guard Auxiliary building that they have occupied for more than 78 years to this day. The lnlet development in its plans does not contemplate adequate accommodation or relocation assistance should this project get the green light. This project only contemplates reasonable accommodation that in essence will diminish the ability of the Coast Guard Auxiliary to carry on their missions and their presence in Cayuga Lake. ln my opinion, I encourage you to deeply consider and it is fair Contact lnformation to say that the developer shall be responsible for providing reallocation and a new home for the Coast Guard Auxiliary with adequate accommodations that will fulfill the needs of this great body of volunteer men and women that keep our water of Cayuga Lake safe. As for lhe development side of the inlet, I think a community center small-scale building, and designating that space as a green-protected space for recreational purposes will be ideal tor that location. Respectfuliy yours, Alejandro Santana -E-Email not displaying correctly? View it in vour browser. il Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com > Date wed 2/5/2025 4:11 PM To Common Council < cou ncil@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis < slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Meg PrichardLast Name Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code Ithaca city State Topic of Discussion Your Comments New York Squeaky clean vacuums violating noise code My name is Meg Prichard and lam coming before common Council again to address the noise problems that are ongoing since the beginning of the new Squeaky Clean's opening in Spring of 2024. The volume, duration, pitch and piercing tone of car wash vacuums are amplified over the surface of Six Mile Creek directly into our residential neighborhood 7 days a week for 12.5 hours a day. We cannot enjoy our home, our yard or any sense of calm since the opening of this business. The noise ordinance for Ithaca City's code states that any unreasonable sound is "A level of sound that is injurious or annoying or disturbing to be heard" and that accurately describes this noise. The city code continues in detail Unreasonable noise prohibited. A. No person shall cause public inconvenience. annoyance or alarm or create a risk thereof by makjng unreasonable noise or by causing unreasonable noise to be made. B. For the purpose of implementing and enforcing the standard set forth in Subsection A of this section, "unreasonable noise,, shall mean any sound created or caused to be created by any person which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of the public or which causes injury to animal life or damages to property or business. Factors lo be considered in determining whether unreasonable noise exists in a given situation include but are not limited to any or all of the following: (1) The intensity of the noise. (2',) Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual. (3) Whether the origin of the noise is associaled with nature or human-made activity. (4) The intensity of the background noise, if any. (s) The proximity of the noise to sleeping facilities. (6) The nature and the zoning district ofthe area within which the noise emanates and ofthe area within 500 feet ofthe source of the sound. (7) The time of the day or night the noise occurs. (8) The time duration of the noise. (e) Whether the sound source is temporary. (10) The volume of lhe noise. (11 ) The existence of complaints concerning the noise from persons living or working in different places or premises who are affected by the noise. These sounds do violate the city noise code under its own deJinition. I come home to an environment where our children have lost their ability to enjoy their yard, the fenced-in place where they played with one another, threw frisbees, swung from a magnolia tree, ate family dinners....the home where I brought our children into the world and now they cannot have my presence as a parent because it is taken by the piercing sound of machines that drive me from lhem, inside or away from our property. Our children deserve our protection and to flou.ish in their residence, their community and the city they reside in. l'm not begging for our rights to exist as people. I am telling yall with confidence that this harm is unnecessary and it's happening to us...our children, our neighbors, the 6 deer who have finally come back at night to trapse the sides of the creek. il Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com > Date Wed 2/5/2025 2:26 PM To Common Council < cou ncil@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca-org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis < slewis@cityofi thaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Adam Last Name Chandler Street Address Municipality *Note this may be different from your zip code State Topic of Discussion Your Comments NY Ithaca Harms caused by Squeaky Clean car wash at South Titus and Meadow Hello, I plan to attend tne 215125 City Council meeting this evening to report on the incredibly frustrating experience neighbors and myself have gone through in the past year trying to get the government system we pay for to be accountable for the mistake it made in approving the car wash at South Titus and Meadow. 1 . Accountability We've attended the Planning Board meetings multiple times, the City Council meeting, called the police, and everything else that city representatives have advised us to do. The planning Board chail Lisa Nicholas, won't answer the basic process I have two points to make in this public comment. First, there are appears not to be a process in place to provide accountability for mistakes made by the Planning Board. Second, I am submitting on behalf the residents of our neighborhood a petition requesting that the vacuums at the car wash on South Titus be removed. question l've twice asked her in public meetings (she promised both times to answer me via email and then didn't follow-up): When the City Planning Office makes a mistake in an approval for a proposal what mechanisms are in place to redress lhe harms you caused? Given that the chair of the Planning Board won't answer my questions, lcall on the City Council to please provide answers 2. Submission of petition to remove vacuums ln December home owners wrote a petition requesting that the free vacuums installed at the car wash on South Titus property be removed. Myself and 35 other home owners who live near the car wash signed this petition. We sent our petition to the Planning Board in December and I am sending it to City Council members today. We call on the City to act on our behalf. Your form does not permit attachments, so I am making the pdf of the petition available at this link. Please download a copy of the file: http-S/clryC.proton.me/urls/QY ntDv2il Thank you, Adam Chandler - arrrlr' Contact lnformation 1 Email not displaying correctly? View it in vour browser. il Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com <noreply@civicplus.com> Date Wed ?/5/2025 9:42 AM To Common Council < council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis <slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Kellie Last Name Gates Street Address Municipality .Note this may be different from your zip code 14850-5236 State Topic of Discussion Your Comments Contact lnformation Dear Mayor Cantelmo and Alderpersons lvlatos, Brown, Nguyen, Haines-Sharp, Shapiro, Saint-Perez, Kuehl, Kumar, Fabrizio, and Lederman, I am writing to express my strong support of Consent Agenda item 5.3: Resolution - lthaca a Sanctuary City. Please reaffirm our city's committment to human rights protection for migrants, reproductive rights, and gender affirming care. This is more important now than ever. Thank you for protecting our neighborsl Sincerely, Kellie Patrick Gates Email not displaying correctly? View it in vour browser. NY Sanctuary City ([Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com > Date wed 2/5/2025 9:32 AM To Common Council < council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org>; Shaniqua Lewis < slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Tom Last Name Shevory Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code Ithaca State Topic of Discussion Your Comments New York Squeaky Clean Carwash Dear Council Members, The Squeaky Clean Car Wash is an ongoing problem in the North Titus neighborhood. lt is clearly in violalion of city noise ordinances, and it is causing significant disruplions to the lives of residents of at least five houses in our neighborhood, including children, who live there. Many members of this Common Council ran under a progressive banner, so it seems obvious that they should not privilege one business owner's interest, a business owner who is flouting city codes, over the welFbeing of an entire neighborhood. The Common Council needs to push the Mayor and City Attorney to fulfill their legal obligations and either require the shutting down of the offending vacuums or to require the installation of some means of effective noise canceling. To do otherwise is an abrogation of the Council's duty to protest residents by enforcing city codes that are already on the books. lf they aren't enforced, then why even bother to have them? il Outloo k Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com> Date Tue 2/4/2025 5:15 PM To Common Council < council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb lr4ohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org >; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org >; Shaniqua Lewis <slewis@cityofi thaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Kathryn CerneraLast Name Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code State Topic of Discussion Your Comments Contact lnformation Ithaca 14850 Reaffirmation of Sanctuary City Status Field not completed. Email not displaying coffectly? View it in yell_Ercjfse! dl Outlook Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com> oate Tue ?/4/2025 10:03 AM To Common Council <council@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org>; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org>; Shaniqua Lewis < slewis@cityofi thaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Last Name Zona Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code Trumansburg Sol State Topic of Discussion Your Comments NY Sanctuary City Status Vote To all on lhe council, Please stand with us, the people of Tompkins County, as you reaffirm our collective core values of caring for our neighbors by voting to keep our sanctuary city status. Come what may from the federal government, we refuse to be bullied into forsaking our own community. They will try to use us as an example, but they underestimate our commitment and love. We will light for what we believe in and support each other through all challenges. Thank you for reading this. We are in unprecedenled times, but lstill have faith in my community, the City of lthaca. please don't take that away from me. Sol Zona Trumansburg. NY Contact lnformation 4016789629 il Outloo k Online Form Submittal: Common Council Public Comment Form From noreply@civicplus.com < noreply@civicplus.com> Date Sun 2/2/2025 1:50 PM To Common Council < cou ncil@cityofithaca.org >; Robert Cantelmo < mayorcantelmo@cityofithaca.org >; Deb Mohlenhoff <dmohlenhoff@cityofithaca.org>; Alan Karasin <AKarasin@cityofithaca.org>; Shaniqua Lewis <slewis@cityofithaca.org > Common Council Public Comment Form First Name Alyssa WeberLast Name Street Address Municipality 'Note this may be different from your zip code State Topic of Discussion Your Comments 14850 NY Resolution- lthaca a Sanctuary City Hello, I am writing in support of lthaca's Sanctuary City Resolution. Freedom from discrimination based on national origin, gender identity, and other protected characteristics is pivotal to respectful and civil society. This past week, lthaca has been targeted by the incoming Republican administration for these policies, and I stand by the decisions that our officials have made in the past. We should not waste our city officials time and resources upholding policies based on hate, such as detaining people for the nonviolent "crime" of existing while not being a citizen- I won't belabor the many benefits sanctuary cilies have see, such as decreased crime; lwill simply save lime by thanking you all for keeping lthaca on the right side of history. Thank you for protecting our world's vulnerable and for standing up to tyranny. Please vote 10 afflrm lthaca as a Sanctuary City. Alyssa Weber Contact lnlormation ---- Dear City Of lthaca Common Council, Days into Donald Trump's first term as president, Common Council adopted legislation declaring Ithaca a sanctuary city for immigrants. ln 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade,lhe Council expanded that sanctuary status to include protections for people seeking and providing abortion services. And in 2023, against a backdrop of escalating attacks on trans rights, they expanded those protections once again, to include people seeking and providing gender-affirming healthcare. Each of these measures limits the participation of our public officials in attempts by out-of-state agencies to track and target members of vulnerable communities. Together, they send a powerful message that the City of lthaca will not allow right-wing extremists to threaten its people. Another Trump inauguration approaches, and nominees to top spots in the new administration have made it clear that they intend to bully local governments and law enforcement into compliance with the administration's priorities. Already, incoming "border czal'Tom Homan has threatened to arrest local officials who refuse to cooperate with the promised mass deportation program. ln the face of this renewed threat, we call on Mayor Cantelmo and Common Council to re-affirm Ithaca's sanctuary statuses for immigrant rights, reproductive freedom, and genderaffirming healthcare. Signed by, We oppose any attempt to conscript our public officials and public resources into serving a cruel and discriminatory agenda that the people of lthaca have overwhelmingly rejected. We stand with those members of our community targeted by MAGA forces, and we call on our elected officials to do the same. Ithaca is, and will remain, a sanctuary city. Tompkins County lmmigrant Rights Coalition First Unitarian Society of lthaca Tompkins County Workers Center Sunrise lthaca Ithaca Teachers Association Gimme Baristas' Union Communication Workers Of America Local 111'1 Advocacy Center of Tompkin County Workers Union Committee On U.S.-Latin American Relations Youth Farm Project Coalition For Mutual Liberation Ithaca Communist Party USA Date: Time: Location: Watch Online: Wednesday February 5, 2025 6:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings 2-5-2025 COMMON COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION MEETING AGENDA 1.Call to Order 1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 2.Proclamations and Awards 3.Review and Approval of Minutes 3.1. 4.Petitions and Hearings of Persons Before Council 4.1. 4.2. 4.3. 5.Consent Agenda 5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 6.New Business / Member Filed 6.1. 6.2. 7.1. 7.2. 8. Report of the City Manager 8.1. 9. Report of the City Controller 9.1. 10.Executive Session (If Needed) 11.Meeting Wrap Up Emergency Evacuation Agenda Review Reports From Municipal Officials 1-8-25 CC Minutes, 1-15-25 COW minutes, 1-22-25 COW Minutes Public Hearing- A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Disability Exemption" Statements from the Public Privilege Of The Floor- Comments From Council and The Mayor A Resolution to Declare Lead Agency- 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction Cargill Environmental Impact Statement Resolution- Ithaca a Sanctuary City Local Law- Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code "Disability Exemption" Ordinance-Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Senior Citizens Exemption" 7. Mayor Appointments Advisory Committee on Encampment Response Protocol Recommendation To TCAT City Manager's Report- February 2025 ARPA Update 1. Announcements 2. Next Meeting 3. Meeting Adjourn 1 Public Comment Forum The public can provide short statements during this portion of the meeting. 3 minutes is the maximum time allotted, but the chair reserves the right to modify the amount of time per individual at the start of the meeting. Only the first hour of the meeting is set aside for Public Comment. Groups of 3 or more speakers are allotted more speaking time. For Longer Speaking Time - Multiple speakers on the same topic can speak as a group with one Designated Speaker to represent the Group. This will give you more time to share your thoughts and concerns during the Public Comment Forum. 3-4 Persons with One Designated Speaker - Alotted 5 minutes 5 or More Persons with One Designated Speaker - Alotted 7 minutes Can't Come to the Meeting but still want to speak? Register to Speak Virtually - https://tinyurl.com/7ts9zmku Attending the Meeting to Speak in Person? Pre-Registration Not Required Comment Cards are provided to those who attend in person. Once you have filled out your Comment Card, please hand your card to the Clerk. Your name will be called to speak in the order the cards are received. Please Note Comment Cards will be accepted up until the Public Comment Forum begins or a maximum of 30 speakers, whichever comes first. Once we have reached a maximum of 30 speakers, you can submit your comment using the Written Comment Link Below. Want to Submit a Comment and Not Speak in Person? To Submit Written Comments - https://tinyurl.com/mr9kdhw8 *Written comments submitted with be compiled and entered into the record. 2 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Clerk's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:1-8-25 CC Minutes, 1-15-25 COW minutes, 1-22-25 COW Minutes ITEM #:3.1 MEMORANDUM Review and approve the January 5th Common Council Meeting minutes, January 15th, 2025, Committee of the Whole Work Session minutes, and the January 22nd, 2025, Committee of the Whole Study Session Meeting Minutes. 3 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Attorney's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Public Hearing- A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Disability Exemption" ITEM #:4.1 MEMORANDUM A Public Hearing to receive public feedback on the proposed Local Law A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, “Disability Exemption”, to Expand Eligibility for Partial Property Tax Exemptions for Certain Persons with Disabilities 4 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Dept of Public Works-Engineering Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Ari Hama DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:A Resolution to Declare Lead Agency- 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction ITEM #:5.1 MEMORANDUM Consent- Environmental review for Construction of a new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk and a 4-foot-wide tree lawn area, approximately 650 feet long, along the south side of the 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive. ATTACHMENTS: Lead Agency res_200 Block of Cecil A. Malone_Ari Hama.pdf Neg Dec Res__Ari Hama.pdf Memo-200 Block Cecil Malone Sidewalk Project.pdf EAF Short form_Ari Hama.pdf 5 Common Council 02 January 2025 A Proposed Resolution to Declare Lead Agency Status for the Environmental Review of (200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. WHEREAS, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance (CEQR), Section 176 of the City Code, require that a lead agency be established for conducting environmental review of projects in accordance with local and state environmental law, and WHEREAS, State Law specifies that for actions governed by local environmental review, the lead agency shall be that local agency which has primary responsibility for approving and funding or carrying out the action, and WHEREAS, SEQR and CEQR both provide for an uncoordinated review for “Unlisted” projects that involve one agency, and WHEREAS, the proposed construction of the 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction. is a “Unlisted” action under SEQR and is an “Unlisted” action under CEQR; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby declare itself lead agency for the environmental review of the proposed construction of the (200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. 6 Common Council Proposed Resolution Environmental Review for the (200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. WHEREAS, the Common Council has declared itself to be the lead agency for the environmental review for a project (“the Project”) entitled “(200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project.” in accordance with Section 176 of the Ithaca City Code (CEQR) and in accordance with Article 8 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (SEQR), and WHEREAS, the Project includes construction or reconstruction of walkways, driveways, curbing to enhance conditions for people walking. WHERAS, the Project is an Unlisted action according to SEQR, and WHERAS, a Short Environmental Assessment form was prepared by staff for SEQR, and WHERAS, on _____ ____, 2024, the Common Council declared itself lead agency for a coordinated environmental review for SEQR, and WHERAS, the Common Council, acting as lead agency, has, on ______ ____, 2024, reviewed and accepted as complete Short Environmental Assessment Forms prepared by staff, now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council determines that the project for “(200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. located in the City of Ithaca will result in no significant negative environmental impact and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Article 8 of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law be filed in accordance with the provisions of Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Act and that a Negative Declaration for purposes of Section 176 of the City Code be filed in accordance with the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance. 7 "An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 Office of City Engineer Telephone: 607 / 274-6530 Fax: 607 / 274-6415 To: Common Council From: Ari Hama, Asst. Sidewalk Program Manager. Date: 02 January 2025 Re: (200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. Please find enclosed for your consideration: 1. A resolution to declare lead agency for the environmental review of the (200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive Sidewalk Construction.) Project. 2. Short Environmental Assessment Forms (one for the State Environmental Quality Review). 3. A proposed resolution to approve and declare that the project will have no significant adverse environmental impact. 4. Project highlights: • Construction of a new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk and a 4-foot-wide tree lawn area, approximately 650 feet long, along the south side of the 200 Block of Cecil A. Malone Drive. The work includes excavation of the existing asphalt surface behind the curb line. Additionally, one new ADA- compliant ramp will be installed at the west end of the street. The project will fill the sidewalk gap between Black Diamond Trail bridge over Flood Control Channel and the sidewalk on the East side of Cecil Malone Dr leading to S Meadow St. I am proposing that the environmental review for this project be conducted in an uncoordinated review. Both SEQR and CEQR provide for this manner of review provided that the action is an Unlisted Action and provided that the action is not determined to have a significant negative impact on the environment. The list of involved agencies is only the City of Ithaca Common Council (funding approval) this time. If you have any questions, feel free to reach me at 607-342-2453 or Ahama@cityofithaca.org. 8 Page 1 of 3 Short Environmental Assessment Form Part 1 - Project Information Instructions for Completing Part 1 – Project Information. The applicant or project sponsor is responsible for the completion of Part 1. Responses become part of the application for approval or funding, are subject to public review, and may be subject to further verification. Complete Part 1 based on information currently available. If additional research or investigation would be needed to fully respond to any item, please answer as thoroughly as possible based on current information. Complete all items in Part 1. You may also provide any additional information which you believe will be needed by or useful to the lead agency; attach additional pages as necessary to supplement any item. Part 1 – Project and Sponsor Information Telephone: E-Mail: administrative rule, or regulation? If Yes, attach a narrative description of the intent of the proposed action and the environmental resources that may be affected in the municipality and proceed to Part 2. If no, continue to question 2. NO YES If Yes, list agency(s) name and permit or approval: b.Total acreage to be physically disturbed? __________ acres c. Total acreage (project site and any contiguous properties) owned or controlled by the applicant or project sponsor? __________ acres 4.Check all land uses that occur on, are adjoining or near the proposed action: Rural (non-agriculture) Industrial Commercial Residential (suburban) Aquatic Other(Specify):Agriculture □ Urban □ Forest SEAF 2019 Parkland 9 Page 2 of 3 a.A permitted use under the zoning regulations? b.Consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan? 6.Is the proposed action consistent with the predominant character of the existing built or natural landscape?NO YES If Yes, identify: ________________________________________________________________________________ NO YES 8.a. Will the proposed action result in a substantial increase in traffic above present levels? b.Are public transportation services available at or near the site of the proposed action? c.Are any pedestrian accommodations or bicycle routes available on or near the site of the proposed action? NO YES If the proposed action will exceed requirements, describe design features and technologies: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ NO YES 10.Will the proposed action connect to an existing public/private water supply? If No, describe method for pr oviding potable water: _________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ NO YES 11.Will the proposed action connect to existing wastewater utilities? If No, describe method for providing wastewater treatment: ______________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ NO YES archaeological sites on the NY State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) archaeological site inventory? NO YES 13. a. Does any portion of the site of the proposed action, or lands adjoining the proposed action, contain wetlands or other waterbodies regulated by a federal, state or local ag ency? b.Would the proposed action physically alter, or encroach into, any existing wetland or waterbody? If Yes, identify the wetland or waterbody and extent of alterations in square feet or acres: _____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 12.a. Does the project site contain, or is it substantially contiguous to, a building, archaeological site, or district which is listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places, or that has been determined by the Commissioner of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to be eligible for listing on the State Register of Historic Places? b.Is the project site, or any portion of it, located in or adjacent to an area designated as sensitive for 10 Page 3 of 3 14.Identify the typical habitat types that occur on, or are likely to be found on the project site. Check all that apply: □Shoreline □ Forest Agricultural/grasslands Early mid-successional Wetland □ Urban Suburban 15.Does the site of the proposed action contain any species of animal, or associated habitats, listed by the State or Federal government as threatened or endangered? 16.Is the project site located in the 100-year flood plan?NO YES 17.Will the proposed action create storm water discharge, either from point or non-point sources? If Yes, a.Will storm water discharges flow to adjacent properties? b.Will storm water discharges be directed to established conveyance systems (runoff and storm drains)? If Yes, briefly describe: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 18.Does the proposed action include construction or other activities that would result in the impoundment of water or other liquids (e.g., retention pond, waste lagoon, dam)? If Yes, explain the purpose and size of the impoundment:______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ _ NO YES 19.Has the site of the proposed action or an adjoining property been the location of an active or closed solid waste management facility? If Yes, describe: _______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 20.Has the site of the proposed action or an adjoining property been the subject of remediation (ongoing or completed) for hazardous waste? If Yes, describe: _______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOVE IS TRUE AND ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE Date: _____________________ Applicant/sponsor/name: ____________________________________________________ __________________________ Signature: _____________________________________________________Title:__________________________________ 11 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Cargill Environmental Impact Statement ITEM #:5.2 MEMORANDUM Consent- Request to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Gov Hochul to require Cargill to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Cayuga Lake Environmental Action (CLEAN) has asked the city to pass a resolution in support of a request for a Cargill permit renewal EIS. ATTACHMENTS: Sample Copy Tompkins County Legislature Resolution 2023-235.pdf Cargill_EIS_Memo_01222025.docx 2025_ Opposing the Cargill's Renewal Permit Application for the Cayuga Salt Mine.docx 12 Tompkins County Legislature Meeting: 11/08/23 5:30 PM Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building Department: Tompkins County Legislature Ithaca, NY 14850 Category: Environmental DOC ID: 11981 B RESOLUTION NO. 2023-235 (ID # 11981) Page 1 Resolution Urging Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to Protect Cayuga Lake Water Quality by Requiring of Cargill Salt Mine a Full Environmental Review, a Closure Plan, and a Surety Bond to Ensure Safe Closure WHEREAS, only 0.5% of the Earth’s water is freshwater available for human consumption and agriculture, and our very limited reserves are being diminished by overuse, contamination, and drought, and WHEREAS, Cayuga Lake is the primary source and/or backup source for nearly 100,000 watershed residents, including municipal systems serving Seneca Falls, Wells College/Village of Aurora, and much of Tompkins County, and WHEREAS, Cayuga Lake provides world-class opportunities for recreation and tourism vital to our local economies, and is a critical part of the Finger Lakes’ $3 billion, 60,000 employee tourism economy that depends on maintaining the health of the water, and WHEREAS, both the New York State Office of General Services and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have stewardship responsibilities for the public lands of New York State, and WHEREAS, salt mining beneath Cayuga Lake began before the adoption of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Act in 1978 and salt mine operations had been permitted over time with minimal environmental review, and WHEREAS, safety concerns are founded on the collapse of the Retsof Mine in Livingston County, NY in 1994, and the salinization of that county’s lower aquifer as a result, and WHEREAS, when Cargill Salt Mine applied to renew its operating permit in 1997, the community strongly advocated that the DEC conduct a thorough environmental review by requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and WHEREAS, all of the criteria governing the decision to require an EIS were met at the Cayuga Salt Mine: the failure of the Retsof mine and resulting contamination, the scope of the impact if such an event were to occur beneath Cayuga Lake, and the potential for contaminating the waters of Cayuga Lake, and WHEREAS, Cargill insisted it was not subject to NYS authority, and instead of an EIS, it agreed to provide an Enhanced Environmental Assessment (EEA), but would only do that if the DEC agreed to keep almost all data and records confidential, and WHEREAS, the administrative record in the subsequent years has continued to reflect the lack of environmental transparency, with the DEC denying FOIL requests and rejecting calls for an EIS, and WHEREAS, it is quite possible that the mine will someday fill with water, therefore a study is needed to determine the timeframe over which such flooding could happen, the extent of the damage that could be caused, methods of preventing or mitigating such occurrence, and projected costs that would be incurred, and 13 Resolution (ID # 11981) Meeting of November 8, 2023 Page 2 WHEREAS, Cargill may now be positioning itself to sell the mine, a triggering event that the DEC should use to establish and enforce Cargill’s accountability for the long-term safety of Cayuga Lake regardless of future ownership of the mine, therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Tompkins County Legislature urges Governor Hochul and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation require a full, independent, and public environmental review of the mine’s operations assessing their long-term potential impact on a valuable, publicly owned natural resource, RESOLVED, further, That as required by the Mined Land Reclamation Law, but not yet required of Cargill by the DEC, the Tompkins County Legislature urges an end-of-life plan must be required and approved by the DEC to address the safe closure of the portion of the mine beneath the Lake, to mitigate the potential impact of the mine’s operations on the Lake’s water quality, RESOLVED, further, That the Tompkins County Legislature urges that Cargill, and/or a future buyer, be required to post an environmental bond with New York State, in an amount to be established by an independent natural resource economist, to ensure the availability of adequate funding to implement said end-of-life plan and to compensate both private and public entities for any natural resource damage claims, RESOLVED, further, That the Clerk of the Legislature is directed to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Kathy Hochul, New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, New York State Senators Pete Harckham, Rachel May, Tom O’Mara, and Lea Webb; New York State Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Anna Kelles; John O’Leary, Deputy Secretary for Energy and the Environment, Office of the Governor; Jeanette Moy, Commissioner, Office of General Services; Basil Seggos, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation, the Cayuga County Legislature, the Seneca County Board of Supervisors, and others as deemed appropriate. SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-26 14 M E M O R A N D U M Date: January 22, 2025 To: Common Council From: Mayor Robert Cantelmo RE: Cargill Permit Renewal EIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Cayuga Lake Environmental Ac?on requested that the City approve a resolu?on suppor?ng their request that the DEC require Cargill to submit an Environmental Impact Statement before the DEC renews its ﬁve-year Mined Land Reclama?on Permit for the Cayuga Salt Mine. Cargill has modiﬁed its permit request to include plans to ﬂood the abandoned S3 Zone of the mine beneath Cayuga Lake with wastewater, poten?ally impac?ng the environment and the community. HISTORY & BACKGROUND It’s been 30 years since the collapse of the Retsof Salt Mine, the only other large NYS salt mine, in 1994 and the Assembly’s Joint Public Hearing on Underground Mining in NYS in 1995. It’s been 25 years since Assemblymember Maty Luster believed that the DEC was commi?ed to ordering Cargill to conduct an EIS to be?er understand the risks of mining beneath Cayuga Lake. Ul?mately the DEC did not require an EIS and the community has con?nued to request an EIS prior to subsequent permit renewals. 15 Resolution Regarding Cargill Incorporated’s Renewal Permit Application for the Cayuga Salt Mine WHEREAS, Cargill Incorporated has submitted a permit application (0-9999-00075/00001) to renew and modify its Mined Land Reclamation Permit for the Cayuga Salt Mine, which includes plans to flood the abandoned S3 Zone of the mine beneath Cayuga Lake with wastewater, potentially impacting the environment and the community; WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has declared itself the lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and has issued a Negative Declaration despite the application being classified as a Type I action, which typically requires a more thorough environmental review; WHEREAS, significant concerns have been raised regarding the adequacy of Cargill’s application, including compliance with the Mined Land Reclamation Law, monitoring and treatment of waste materials, the potential for groundwater pollution, the stability of the mine, and the long-term reclamation of the affected areas; WHEREAS, the proposed flooding of the S3 Zone raises serious questions about the safety and environmental integrity of Cayuga Lake, particularly in light of prior instability noted in this area and the implications of storing unsaturated brine beneath the lake; Whereas, since the collapse of Retsof, the only other large NYS salt mine, in 1994 and the Assembly’s Joint Public Hearing on Underground Mining in NYS in 1995, many local municipalities and nonprofits whose missions are to preserve Cayuga Lake’s Water Quality have supported an independent third-party scientific review of the relevant data facilitated by an Environmental Impact Study to provide a more comprehensive public assessment of the long- term threats to the Lake from the large beneath the Lake rock salt mine Whereas, since the community has been denied access to much of the relevant geological and seismic data needed to assess the risk of the mine’s operations, the DEC’s Senior Administrative Law Judge found in 2002 that “shielding from public scrutiny the very information to assess the potential environmental impact and safety issues associated with a proposed mine (Permit) is inimical to the process,” and in 2005 the DEC’s Asst. Commissioner overruled the ALJ and denied access to this information as a trade secret, we urge the DEC to reject this overly broad determination and order the release of the necessary data. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cityof Ithaca formally requests that the DEC: 1. Deny Cargill’s permit application or, alternatively, rescind the Negative Declaration and require the preparation of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement to assess all potential environmental risks associated with the proposed activities. 16 2. Conduct a public hearing to allow for community input and address the substantive concerns raised by residents and stakeholders regarding the application. 3. Ensure that Cargill’s Reclamation Plan and accompanying bond are revised to adequately address environmental protection and public safety, and that sufficient measures are implemented to prevent potential pollution and ensure the long-term stability of the mine and surrounding areas. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution besent to Comment.CayugaSaltMine2023@dec.ny.gov, DEC Region 7 Administrator Dereth Glance (dereth.glance@dec.ny.gov), DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar (sean.mahar@dec.ny.gov), OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy (officeofthecommissioner@ogs.ny.gov) to ensure that the voices of the City of Ithaca residents are heard in this critical decision-making process. 17 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Resolution- Ithaca a Sanctuary City ITEM #:5.3 MEMORANDUM Consent- A Resolution Reaffirming the City of Ithaca’s Commitment to Human Rights Protection for Migrants, Reproductive Rights, and Gender Affirming Care ATTACHMENTS: Amended Sanctuary_City_2025_Reaffirmation.pdf 18 A Resolution Reaffirming the City of Ithaca’s Commitment to Human Rights Protection for Migrants, Reproductive Rights, and Gender Affirming Care WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca code prohibits discrimination against any individuals on the basis of actual or perceived age; creed; color; disability; domestic violence victim status; ethnicity; familial status; gender; gender identity or expression; height; immigration or citizenship status; marital status; military status; national origin; predisposing genetic characteristics; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; socioeconomic status; or weight, and WHEREAS in February 2017, the City of Ithaca Common Council unanimously adopted an ordinance recognizing the importance of fostering a city that is welcoming and inclusive for all individuals, regardless of nationality or citizenship status, and to ensure, to the greatest extent permitted by law, that immigration enforcement is a function of the federal government and not the City of Ithaca, and WHEREAS in July 2022, the City of Ithaca Common Council unanimously adopted an ordinance recognizing the importance of reproductive healthcare as a matter of health, privacy, and equality and to ensure, to the greatest extent permitted by law, that those rights are upheld for all within the City of Ithaca, and WHEREAS in September 2023, the City of Ithaca Common Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing and supporting access to gender-affirming care to minors and adults, and WHEREAS the political climate in Washington, DC and the rhetoric of the federal administration have introduced significant anxiety and fear around the protection of human rights in these areas, now therefore be it RESOLVED, the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Ithaca hereby reaffirm and uphold our commitment to those protected by these laws and those aforementioned communities enumerated in the City’s antidiscrimination code, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council requests that the administration adhere to and implement all appropriate administrative policies and procedures and recommend to the Common Council further policies that reflect the City’s commitment to the above. 19 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Attorney's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:City Attorney Victor Kessler DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Local Law- Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code "Disability Exemption" ITEM #:6.1 MEMORANDUM Voting Item: A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, “Disability Exemption”, to Expand Eligibility for Partial Property Tax Exemptions for Certain Persons with Disabilities ATTACHMENTS: Local Law 2025-FINAL Disability RP Tax Exemption Local Law.pdf 20 1 A Local Law Amending Article V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, “Disability Exemption”, to Expand Eligibility for Partial Property Tax Exemptions for Certain Persons with Disabilities WHEREAS, on August 8, 2022, the Governor signed into law a bill amending Section 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law to permit taxing jurisdictions to expand income eligibility for the partial property tax exemption for certain persons with disabilities, and WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca desires to amend Chapter 300-26 of the Ithaca City Code in order to effectuate this expansion; now, therefore LOCAL LAW 2025-__ BE IT ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows: Section 1. Legislative findings, intent, and purpose. The Common Council of the City of Ithaca makes the following findings: 1. Housing affordability is a serious issue that disproportionately impacts low-income households. 2. The income thresholds for providing property tax relief to persons with disabilities whose incomes are limited by reason of such disabilities have not been adjusted since the 2013 enactment of Local Law 2013-4. 3. Providing additional tax relief by expanding eligibility thresholds will provide a significant benefit to such persons with disabilities without unduly burdening ineligible taxpayers. Based upon the above findings, the intent and purpose of this Local Law is to expand eligibility for property tax relief for persons with disabilities whose incomes are limited by reason of such disabilities. Section 2. Amendments to Chapters 300-1 and 300-2 of the Ithaca City Code The following portions of Chapter 300-26 of the Ithaca City Code are hereby amended as follows: 1 1 Strikethrough indicates removals. Underlining indicates additions. Ellipses (…) indicate the omitted text remains unaltered. 21 2 § 300-26. Statutory authority; exemption granted; terms and conditions. … B. Exemption granted. (1) Pursuant to the provisions of § 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, real property located in the City of Ithaca owned by one or more persons, each of whom is disabled and whose income is limited by reason of such disability, or real property owned by a married couple or siblings, one of whom is disabled and whose income is limited by reason of such disability, shall be partially exempt from taxation by said City for the applicable taxes specified in § 459-c based upon the income of the owner or combined income of the owners. Such partial exemption shall be to the extent set forth in the schedule following: Annual Income of Owner or Combined Annual Income of Owners Assessed Valuation Exempt From Taxation Up to but less than $29,00050,000 50% Up to but less than $30,00051,000 45% Up to but less than $31,00052,000 40% Up to but less than $32,00053,000 35% Up to but less than $32,90053,900 30% Up to but less than $33,80054,800 25% Up to but less than $34,70055,700 20% Up to but less than $35,60056,600 15% Up to but less than $36,50057,500 10% Up to but less than $37,40058,400 5% (2) This partial exemption provided by this article shall, however, be limited to such property and persons as meet the conditions, qualifications, exclusions, and limitations set forth in § 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York. This article shall be administered in accordance with said sections of the Real Property Tax Law, as now adopted, and as they may be amended from time to time, and the provisions of said section, as provided in § 459-c, shall be applicable to the effectuation of the exemption provided for in this article. … 22 3 Section 3. Severability Clause Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this Local Law. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Local Law is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Local Law. Section 4. Effective Date. This Local Law shall be effective immediately upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State. 23 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Attorney's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:City Attorney Victor Kessler DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Ordinance-Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, "Senior Citizens Exemption" ITEM #:6.2 MEMORANDUM Voting Item: An Ordinance Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, “Senior Citizens Exemption”, to Expand Eligibility for Partial Property Tax Exemptions for Low-Income Persons Aged 65 Years or Older ATTACHMENTS: Ordinance 2025- FINAL Senior RP Tax Exemption Ord.pdf 24 1 An Ordinance Amending Article I of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code, “Senior Citizens Exemption”, to Expand Eligibility for Partial Property Tax Exemptions for Low-Income Persons Aged 65 Years or Older WHEREAS, on August 8, 2022, the Governor signed into law a bill amending Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law to permit taxing jurisdictions to expand income eligibility for the partial property tax exemption for low-income seniors, and WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca desires to amend Chapters 300-1 and 300-2 of the Ithaca City Code in order to effectuate this expansion; now, therefore ORDINANCE 2025-__ BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as follows: Section 1. Legislative findings, intent, and purpose. The Common Council of the City of Ithaca makes the following findings: 1. Housing affordability is a serious issue that disproportionately impacts low-income households. 2. The income thresholds for providing property tax relief to low-income seniors have not been amended since the 2013 enactment of Ordinance No. 2013-14. 3. Providing additional tax relief by expanding eligibility thresholds will provide a significant benefit to low-income seniors without unduly burdening ineligible taxpayers. Based upon the above findings, the intent and purpose of this Ordinance is to expand eligibility for property tax relief for low-income persons aged 65 or older. Section 2. Amendments to Chapters 300-1 and 300-2 of the Ithaca City Code The following portions of Chapters 300-1 and 300-2 of the Ithaca City Code are hereby amended as follows: 1 § 300-1. Exemption granted. A. Pursuant to the provisions of § 467 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New 1 Strikethrough indicates removals. Underlining indicates additions. Ellipses (…) indicate the omitted text remains unaltered. 25 2 York, real property in the City of Ithaca owned by one or more persons, each of whom is 65 years of age or over, or real property owned by a married couple or by siblings, one of whom is 65 years of age or over, shall be partially exempt from taxation by the City based upon the income of the owner or the combined incomes of the owners. (1) Such partial exemption shall be to the extent set forth in the schedule following: Annual Income of Owner or Combined Annual Income of Owners Assessed Valuation Exempt From Taxation Up to but less than $29,00050,000 50% Up to but less than $30,00051,000 45% Up to but less than $31,00052,000 40% Up to but less than $32,00053,000 35% Up to but less than $32,90053,900 30% Up to but less than $33,80054,800 25% Up to but less than $34,70055,700 20% Up to but less than $35,60056,600 15% Up to but less than $36,50057,500 10% Up to but less than $37,40058,400 5% (2) The partial exemption provided by this article shall, however, be limited to such property and persons as meet the conditions, exclusions and limitations set forth in § 467 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York. … § 300-2. Limitations on exemption. No exemption shall be granted: A. If the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of the property exceeds the sum of $37,40058,400 for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application for exemption as consistent with the schedule provided in § 300-1A. "Income tax year" and “income” shall be defined as set forth in section 467 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law or any successor theretomean a twelve-month period for which the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return or, if no such return is filed, the calendar year. Where title is vested in either spouse, their combined income may not exceed such sum. Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits, interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the same income tax year, net rental income, salary or earnings and net income 26 3 from self-employment but shall not include a return of capital, gifts or inheritances. In computing net rental income and net income from self-employment, no depreciation deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion of, or wear and tear on, real or personal property held for the production of income. … Section 3. Severability Clause Severability is intended throughout and within the provisions of this Ordinance. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, then that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. Section 4. Effective Date This ordinance shall take effect immediately and in accordance with law upon publication of notices as provided in the Ithaca City Charter. 27 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Deputy City Manager Dominick Reccio DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Advisory Committee on Encampment Response Protocol ITEM #:7.1 MEMORANDUM Voting Item: City of Ithaca Common Council establish an Advisory Committee to Review and Evaluate Homeless Encampment Policies and Protocols comprised of three Members of the Common Council, members of City Staff, and representatives from community partner agencies ATTACHMENTS: 011525_Encampment Review Committee Resolution.pdf 28 Proposed Resolution City of Ithaca Common Council January 15, 2025 Review and Evaluation of Pilot Administrative Policy to Manage Homeless Encampments on City Property, Response Protocol to Unsanctioned Encampments on City Lands WHEREAS, on September 15, 2023, the Common Council adopted the Pilot Administrative Policy to Manage Homeless Encampments on City Property (Policy) that designated a 28- acre City-owned area where camping by persons experiencing homelessness will be temporarily allowed as an exception to the citywide prohibition on camping on City lands, and WHEREAS, on December 6, 2023, the City of Ithaca Common Council adopted the Response Protocol to Unsanctioned Encampments on City Property (Protocol) and it has now been in effect for one full year, and WHEREAS, the City Manager has convened a regular meeting of City staff and community partner agency representatives to effectuate the protocol and ensure outreach services are provided to campers on City land, and WHEREAS, the City Manager was directed to operationalize the protocol and recommend further amendments to the policy; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the City of Ithaca Common Council establish an Advisory Committee to Review and Evaluate Homeless Encampment Policies and Protocols comprised of three Members of the Common Council, members of City Staff, and representatives from community partner agencies, with the mandate to review and evaluate the implementation of the Pilot Administrative Policy to Manage Homeless Encampments and Response Protocol to Unsanctioned Encampments on City Lands: •Determine effectiveness of communication with campers asked to move from actively managed public lands and supportive community partner agency staff •Determine effectiveness of supportive transition resources offered to campers asked to move from actively managed public lands •Review hazard remediation actions taken for any removed campsites •Determine whether availability of sanctioned camping areas provide sufficient size and character for individuals seeking campsites, determine whether sanctioned areas minimize the number of scattered encampments in other areas of the City 29 •Document financial resources committed and spent to date to support the policy and protocol and be it further, RESOLVED, that the Mayoral Appointments for this committee be Alderperson Kayla Matos Alderperson David Shapiro Alderperson Patrick Kuehl and be it further, RESOLVED, the City Manager’s appointments for this committee be Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio (Chair) Encampment Response Coordinator (to be named) IURA Director Nels Bohn Ithaca Police Department Chief Thomas Kelly Human Services Coalition Director of Housing Initiatives Liddy Bargar REACH Medical Community Outreach and Case Management Supervisor Anna Vergari and be it further, RESOLVED, RESOLVED, 30 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:Recommendation To TCAT ITEM #:7.2 MEMORANDUM Voting Item: Common Council recommends Professor Nick Klein be appointed to the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Board for a 3 year term ending December 31st 2027 ATTACHMENTS: Recommendations to TCAT- Nick Klein.pdf 31 Recommendations to Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Board – Resolution RESOLVED, That Common Council recommends Professor Nick Klein be appointed to the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Board for a Three (3) year term to expire December 31, 2027. 32 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 City Manager's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:Common Council FROM:Deb Mohlenhoff, City Manager DATE:February 5, 2025 RE:City Manager's Report- February 2025 ITEM #:8.1 MEMORANDUM ATTACHMENTS: 2-5-25 City Manager Report Monthly Report to CC.pdf 33 M E M O R A N D U M Date: February 5, 2025 To: Common Council From: Deborah Mohlenhoﬀ, City Manager RE: Monthly City Manager Report on January 2025 I am pleased to provide this monthly report to Council that will serve as an opportunity to highlight the work of our city departments in the past month and give key updates on ongoing initiatives. City Attorney The Attorney’s Oﬃce assisted with research and drafting for the tax exemption legislation being considered before Common Council in February, and continues to support Council, the City Manager, department heads, boards and commissions, and line staﬀ in the daily operations of the City. Thanks to the increased staﬃng authorized by Common Council, the Oﬃce will have additional resources in 2025 and intends to work closely with relevant departments to review enforcement procedures with an eye towards increasing compliance, to dedicate additional time and resources to furthering Common Council’s legislative priorities (including major structural initiatives arising from 2024 committee reports), and to work closely with the City Manager and leadership team to ensure a smooth second year of transition to the new form of government. The Attorney’s Oﬃce is also closely monitoring developments on the federal level and stands ready to defend the City’s home rule prerogatives as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article IX of the New York State Constitution. Public Information & Technology/City Clerk The Department of Public Information and Technology is very pleased to report that we have brought a new Community Permit Specialist on board. She will be concentrating on permitting/events on the Commons, Collegetown noise permits, and administering our See-Click-Fix citizen reporting tool. She will also be reviewing documentation and creating guides for members of the public to help streamline their event permitting processes. Ithaca Youth Bureau Youth Development • Big Brothers Big Sisters held their Youth Insight Panel on Mentoring and Youth Art Show on Saturday, January 25th. The event featuring a panel of current and alumni Littles discussing their thoughts and feelings on mentoring was well attended. • Thanks to excellent recruitment work over the last few months BBBS has 16 new volunteers to match with eagerly awaiting Littles. 34 • College and Career Discovery Program is partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Hammerstone School for learning opportunities around cooking, nutrition, and carpentry. • Outings has been busy with the Pathﬁnders, Explorers, Trailblazers after-school programs and registration-based adventure programs started up again this month. During January we oﬀer ASCEND: Rock Adventures. This is an indoor rock climbing program for young people ages 5 - 11 that takes place at the Lindseth Climbing Wall. • Youth Council Ambassadors has been meeting weekly since late October. This year, meetings are structured around skills and experiences, using the lens of current events for topical content. The skill area units are Civic Engagement, Ideation and Creative Problem Solving, and Public Speaking and are incorporating experiences of community service, engaging with local government, and group discussion and debate. Recreation • Winter 2025 classes, programs, and leagues are underway. In addition to our regular line-up of Expressive Arts (including an “Art Afterschool” and selection of Pottery themed classes), Small Ball Basketball, 6th Grade Basketball, the Role Playing Game Group, and 3 levels of Tae Kwon Do classes, we have a new Yoga class that just began and Dance class which will start soon. • By popular request, we have added Mondays to our oﬀered days of Tot Spot and had 12 littles with their adults in attendance on the recent Monday Holiday! Parks • Our front oﬃce team had a successful opening of pavilion reservations for the 2025 Pavilion Season at Stewart and Cass Park with 39 individual rentals and close to $14,000 worth of business happening on the ﬁrst day. This year, we changed the date that we opened for pavilion reservations to be separate from the day that we open the boat rack reservations with great success. Look for 2025 Boat Rack Rentals to open for the season on February 12th! • The pavilion addition at Stewart Park is substantially completed with some ﬁnishing work to be completed in April when the weather improves. • Meloney McMurry has been hired as the new Executive Director of Friends of Stewart Park. We are excited to work with her! • Cass Park Rink is extremely busy with 13-15 hours of programming daily. Public skating has been extremely popular and well-attended. 400 people enrolled in Learn to Skate lessons this season. • We hosted another successful annual regional tournament for TGHA (Tompkins Girls Hockey Assoc). • Capital Projects at Cass Park including replacements of the Union Field and Pavilion restroom buildings, replacement of the large pavilion, and the removal of the diesel generator for ﬁeld lights are progressing through the design process. • We are progressing with Cass Park Pool Filter House improvements to conclude the Cass Park Pool Renovation Project. • The Town of Ithaca renewed their annual ﬁnancial support for Cass and Stewart Parks at their January meeting. Ithaca Fire Department • All shifts completed a one-day course entitled “Above the line / Below the Line”. It helps Fireﬁghters size up Hazardous Materials calls to determine initial actions. • The new Heavy Rescue is in Albany where it is being upﬁtted to ﬁt speciﬁc IFD needs (tool mounting, cascade system installation, etc.) The Heavy Rescue will replace an existing vehicle that is 34 years old. (Photo Attached) • IFD has submitted a FEMA Assistance to Fireﬁghter’s Grant (AFG) to purchase needed portable radios. 35 • FF Jillian Morales has completed an Associate's Degree in Fire Science from Columbia Southern University. • FF Emily Rodekohr received a Call Commendation by Central New York Regional EMS for a cardiac arrest call that had a successful outcome. • Recruit Fireﬁghters Bellingham, Walsh, Shoemaker, Young, and Adams were sworn in by the Mayor on 1/7/25. They have completed initial IFD speciﬁc training and have transitioned to shift. • IFD interviewed twenty eligible candidates to ﬁll four Fireﬁghter positions. Four new Fireﬁghters start with IFD on Wednesday 1/29/25. The 15-Week Fire Academy starts on 2/10/25. • IFD is oﬀering the entry-level Fireﬁghter Civil Service Exam on 1 March 2025. 98 people have submitted applications. • Work continues on the EHFS. The building is enclosed and approximately 60% of the building is completed. (Photo Attached) Human Resources The HR Department has created a work plan and goals derived from City manager’s top priorities. Please see the HR Department 2025 Workplan for additional details pertaining to achieving these goals. Ithaca Police Department Please see the IPD goals and objectives for 2025. These were created with IPD department unit heads and will be distributed to sergeants in the ﬁrst week of February. Public Works Superintendent 36 • Met with Barton & Loguidice and FEMA to discuss how to address conservative assumptions in the FEMA ﬂood model, which are preventing us from progressing the mitigation design eﬀort. FEMA directed the City to use the LOMR process, which will add time and cost to the mitigation project. The Superintendent is working with B&L to start the LOMR application. Engineering • Design approval granted for the Stewart Ave bridge over Fall Creek (deck replacement) and design is on-going for the N. Cayuga St bridge over Fall Creek (full replacement). • Design continues for trail extension to the Kirby Edmonds bridge over Rt 13 and the Town of Ithaca's Gateway trail, including access to Buttermilk Falls State Park. • Design development continues for Cass Park pavilion and bathroom building replacements, partially grant- funded. • Safe Streets and Roads for All project (www.safestreetstompkins.com) scheduled public information meetings in December. Network and crash history analysis is complete, working on setting goals and priorities • Refining draft Design Report for Route 13/Cayuga Waterfront Revitalization project (BUILD grant, www.route13ithaca.com). Environmental review and design approval to follow. • Sidewalk 2025 work plan has been adopted. Working on bid documents for 2025 construction. Streets & Facilities • Continued catchbasin cleaning and repair (Citywide) • Continued utility patch repair (Citywide). • Plowed snow and salted roads as needed Water & Sewer • Continued water main replacement on South Albany from Green to Clinton • Continued work on ice melting infrastructure for Cascadilla and Fall Creeks • Continued hydrant relocations, and general water & sewer service installs • Extended Camden Group contract for 2025 WWTP operations • Working with HR to get restored WWTP positions advertised Parking & Commons • Recruited and successfully hired a new Ithaca Commons Maintenance Supervisor, Joe Dixon, who was formerly a Building and Grounds Maintenance Worker • Despite bitterly cold temperatures, maintained normal proficiency in Operations across all three of our Parking Garages as well as above average ticketing and towing functions by our Community Service Officers. • Met with Flowbird (a new partner with ParkMobile) to explore more effective and future solutions for On-Street parking payment. 37