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Home My WebLink AboutMN-COWA-2026-01-14YouTube Link:https://tinyurl.com/m8bt8r4e Date: Location: Wednesday January 14, 2026 108 E Green Street Council Chambers 3rd Floor JANUARY 14th 2026 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - SESSION A Meeting Minutes Voting Record 1.Cooperative Working Relationships Training- 5-6 PM 2.Call To Order 2.1 Emergency Evacuation Notice 2.2 State Of The City Address 2.3 Agenda Review 3.Review and Approval of Minutes- No Minutes to Approve 4.Public Works and Operations Attendance Record of Voting Members Name Present Absent/Excused 1st Ward - Kayla Matos X 1st Ward - Jorge DeFendini X 2nd Ward - Ducson Nguyen X 2nd Ward - Joe Kirby X 3rd Ward - David Shapiro X 3rd Ward - Pat Sewell X 4th Ward - Robin Trumble X 4th Ward - Patrick Kuehl X 5th Ward - Margaret Fabrizio X 5th Ward - Hannah Shvets X Mayor - Robert Cantelmo X Also Present: Alderperson Fabrizio out on an excused absence. Discussion Summary: The January 14th 2026 Committee of the Whole was called to order at 6pm to start the Cooperative Working Relationship training with Common Council. This portion of the meeting is not live streamed. Discussion Summary: Council proceeded with the meeting agenda after the conclusion of the Working Relationships Training. Mayor Robert Cantelmo presented the State of the City Address. There were no changes to the agenda. For the full text of the State of the City Address, click here . Timestamp 0:25-16:39 Discussion Summary: No Minutes to approve. 4.1 Cass Park Pavilion and Restroom Improvements 5.Intergovernmental Relations 5.1 Professional Conduct and Council Oversight Discussion Summary: Council voted to move the Cass Park Pavillion and Restroom Improvements to the February 4th Common Council Consent Agenda,. Staff reported an additional $200,000 in grant funding, increasing the outside funding share, and clarified the total authorized amounts for the related capital projects. Minor clerical and funding revisions to the resolution and supporting memo will be submitted prior to the February 4 meeting to reflect these changes. Timestamp 17:01-29:36 Moved By: Kayla Matos Seconded By: David Shapiro Motion Summary: Cass Park Pavilion and Restroom Improvements. Moved by Alderperson Matos, Seconded by Alderperson Shapiro. Motion to move to the February 4th Common Council Consent Agenda. All In Favor of moving to Consent Agenda. Motion carries 10-0 with Alderperson Fabrizio absent. Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Kayla Matos X Jorge DeFendini X Ducson Nguyen X Joe Kirby X David Shapiro X Pat Sewell X Robin Trumble X Patrick Kuehl X Hannah Shvets X Robert Cantelmo X Discussion Summary: Mayor Cantelmo requested a motion to end the discussion by referring this item to an ad hoc working group of three Council members to develop recommendations and report back. The 3 members are Alderperson Sewel, Kirby, and DeFendini. There was no action taken at this meeting. Timestamp 29:39-33:40 Moved By: David Shapiro Seconded By: Joe Kirby Motion Summary: Motion to refer to an ad hoc working group. Moved by Alderperson Shapiro, Seconded by Alderperson Kirby. All In Favor of referring to working group. Motion carried unanimously 10-0 with Alderperson Fabrizio absent. 6.Meeting Wrap-Up Vote Passed 10-0 Carried Unanimously Member Approve Oppose Recuse Kayla Matos X Jorge DeFendini X Ducson Nguyen X Joe Kirby X David Shapiro X Pat Sewell X Robin Trumble X Patrick Kuehl X Hannah Shvets X Robert Cantelmo X Discussion Summary: No further business. Meeting is adjourned. 6:34pm Timestamp 33:40 Submitted: 2-6-2026 Adopted: 02-11-2026 Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk Carried Unanimously 11-0 Date: Time: Location: Watch Online: Wednesday January 14, 2026 6:00 PM 108 E Green Street Council Chambers 3rd Floor https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings JANUARY 14, 2026 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING -A AGENDA 1. Cooperative Working Relationships Training 5-6 PM 2. Call To Order 2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 3. Review and Approval of Minutes- No Minutes to Approve 4. Public Works and Operations 4.1. 5. Intergovernmental Relations 5.1. 6. Meeting Wrap-Up Emergency Evacuation Notice State of the City Address Agenda Review Cass Park Pavilion and Restroom Improvements Professional Conduct and Council Oversight Announcements Meeting Adjourned No Public Comments Not all meetings have a Public Comment segment. The City of Ithaca wants to hear from you! You are encouraged to share your thoughts with Common Council using the options below: To Submit Written Comments please use the link below. Click Here to Submit Written Comments *Written comments submitted will be compiled and entered into the record. 1 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Dept of Public Works-Engineering Christine Ibert, TO:COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING -A FROM:DPW Engineering Division DATE:January 14, 2026 RE:Cass Park Pavilion and Restroom Improvements ITEM #:4.1 MEMORANDUM Seeking updated funding resolutions for approved Capital Projects. ATTACHMENTS: Work Session Memo to Council_Cass Park Pavili_John Licitra.pdf Cass Park Pavilion and Union Field Bathroom R_John Licitra.docx Detailed Memo Combined_GH_John Licitra.pdf 2 M E M O R A N D U M Date: 15 December 2025 To: Common Council From: Johnathan Licitra, Civil Engineer, DPW—Engineering Division RE: Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom Project EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Exis ng Cass Park Capital Projects #929 & #934 seek funding increases to construct replacement infrastructure: 1 large pavilion, 2 bathroom buildings (near Children’s Garden & at Union Field), and associated site improvements. If the budget is increased, then construc on could begin in March 2026 with substan al comple on scheduled for July 2026. PROJECT HISTORY, BACKGROUND, & ANALYSIS Cass Park was constructed during the early 1970s and these structures have seen limited improvements since this me. Improvement recommenda ons to the iden ﬁed structures were made in the 2002 Thomas Assoc Building Assessment Program and the 2022 Barton and Loguidice Cass Park Master Plan. The roofs have leaks, are missing shingles and are beyond expected life, bathrooms are not up to current ADA standards, the pavilion and buildings have evidence of rot, the storage space is inadequate for maintaining park equipment and supplies and the diesel generator for the ﬁeld lights requires 10-12 gallons of diesel per hour to operate, is over 10 years past its replacement date (2013) and is extremely ineﬃcient and loud. The public demands usable facili es. POLICY ALIGNMENT STATEMENT This project aligns with the City’s goal of being more accessible to all community members. It con nues the City’s mission and compliance with the Comprehensive Plan to maintain exis ng City infrastructure. Signiﬁcant outside funding totaling $0.96M was obtained via: $0.5M NYS Oﬃce of Parks, Rec., and Historic Preserva on grant $0.3M Sen. Lea Webb’s Community Resiliency, Economic Stability & Tech. grant $0.085M Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Community Dev. Block grant (expected Jan 7, 2026) $0.075M NYS Energy Research Dev. Agency grant 3 QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL  If the project is not funded, then what happens to the exis ng grants and future grant opportuni es?  If the project is not funded, then should the facili es be temporarily closed and portable toilets be contracted?  If the project is not completed, the needs will remain, designs will need to be revisited/updated resul ng in addi onal costs and the project costs projec ons will con nue to rise a minimum of 5 percent annually. BUDGET IMPLICATIONS & FUNDING The City 2024 budget passed the ini al funding for these projects. This project was originally bid in May 2025 and came in $1.1M over budget. In eﬀorts to make the project aﬀordable while mee ng the iden ﬁed needs of the project we shi ed to u lizing coopera ve buying agreements to use pre-cast buildings and a pavilion via Purchase Orders. Bids opened again in Nov 2025 for a total project cost of $2.1M and a funding gap remains of $359,700. This gap in funding would be covered via capital bonding. REQUIRED PUBLIC AMENITIES The pavilion and adjacent restrooms are heavily u lized and are the only restrooms in that area of the park that serves 2 pavilions, a playground, the Black Diamond Trailhead, special events, Union Field and Cayuga Waterfront Trail users. The Union Field Restroom Building serves Union Field, Cayuga Waterfront Trail users and Special Events. This building will also provide cold storage for park equipment that o en has to be stored outdoors. NEXT STEPS Addi onal informa on is found in the a ached memo and budget details. A resolu on is dra ed to increase the funding at the 4 Feb 2026 CC mee ng. 4 A Resolution to Amend Capital Project #929 for Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom and Capital Project #934 Union Field Bathroom and Storage Project WHEREAS, Capital Project #929 was established in the 2024 budget to design the replacement of the 1970s Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom, and WHEREAS, Common Council has received a grant of $500,000 from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for the project to subsidize part of the construction costs and the current authorization of $50,000 is not sufficient for the design costs, and WHEREAS, Common Council increased the budget authorization to $988,000 in April 2025, and WHEREAS, Capital Project #934 was established for the Union Field Bathroom and Storage Replacement with a budget authorization of $578,150 in 2024 budget authorization, and WHEREAS, CREST grant of $300,000 and NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Grant of $74,500 was received by City staff for Union Field Bathrooms project, and WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau operates and maintains the Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom, and Union Field Bathrooms, and Engineering staff, and the City’s design consultant, Barton & Loguidice, have estimated design, construction, and construction support costs totaling $2,085,350 and WHEREAS, Engineering staff has vetted and will continue to value-engineer the above replacement estimates in a timely manner to allow for the fiscal use of limited City resources and the vital services these amenities provide, and the budget increase will enable for construction administration, inspection, material testing and a construction contingency; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby amends Capital Project #929 by $ 246,198 for the project, bringing the total authorization to $ 1,234,198; and, amends Capital Project #934 by $ 273,002 for the project, bringing the total authorization to $ 851,152 be it further RESOLVED, That funds needed for said amendment shall be derived from [ issuance of Serial Bonds], and be it further 5 RESOLVED, Common Council hereby authorizes the Superintendent of Public Works to execute contracts with the qualified low bidders for the approved Cass Park Pavilion and Bathroom project. 6 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: Johnathan Licitra, Civil Engineer—DPW Gregg Houck, Director—Ithaca Youth Bureau Date: 18 Dec 2025 Re: Cass Park Capital Improvement Project: Amendment to Pavilion and Bathroom Replacement Project Please find enclosed a resolution to amend and increase the Capital Budget for the replacement of Cass Park Pavilion & Restroom (CP# 929), and Cass Park Union Field Restroom & Storage facility (CP# 934). Background: Common Council funded the Cass Park Capital Plan in 2020 to assess the current and future needs for using the park’s existing buildings and grounds. In June 2024, Common Council increased the funding for CP#929 to $988,000. An additional NYSERDA grant increased the funding for CP#934 to $706,650. Both projects were designed and scheduled for concurrent construction schedules to take advantage of economies of scale—combined budgets equal $1,640,650. Phasing the project would increase cost about 25%. The multi-prime contract bids opened on May 8, 2025 and the qualified low bidder contracts totaled $1,097,740 over budget. The design team ratified the scope and used existing cooperative buying agreements to directly purchase replacement pre-cast buildings (CXT) and a pavilion (Parkitects). Remaining work items include demolition of existing structures, underground and overhead utility connections, building pad preparation, masonry, asphalt, and site restoration. Bids opened on Nov 6, 2025 and a funding gap remains of $359,700. Grant Information: - NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation $500,000. - Lea Webb endorsed Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology Program (CREST) $300,000. - Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Community Dev. Block $85,000. - NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Grant $ 74,500. SUM $ 959,500. 7 Quick Stats: Pavilion Restroom & Pavilion: - Pavilion 40’ x 64’ with electric hook-ups and lights (solar ready) - 26’ x 20’ Building & Storage - 4 all gender bathrooms (2 ADA-accessible) - Income generating Large Pavilion Rentals Union Field Restroom & Storage Building: - 26’ x 30’ Building & Storage (solar ready) - Removes diesel generator for field lighting - 4 all gender bathrooms (2 ADA-accessible) - Stores rec. equipment and maintenance items for 32 athletic fields Project Timeline: Original Project Budget = $1,694,500 Bid Opening May 8, 2025 =$2,793,00 (over budget by $1,097,740), Not awarded Re-design, cooperative buying agreements (Sourcewell & HGAC) for precast buildings See Addendum document for detailed breakdown Bid Opening Nov 6, 2025 = over budget by $359,700 Current: Seeking updated CC Resolution for funding gap Additional Information: With the bid letting, the City has requested an extension to Award the contract until Feb 6. The City has also signed three Purchase Orders to obtain the precast structures. With the $959,500 grant, the City’s local costs would be $1,214,850 or 54% of the total project costs. Due to the nature of rising construction costs, past delayed repairs, and an expressed need from the community for improvements to Cass Park’s amenities, it is highly encouraged to do this work. As a partial grant reimbursement project, the City will be paid back after expenditures. The resolution is written as such to pass the resolution in the affirmative will fund the full provisions $2,085,350. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions. Sincerely, Johnathan Licitra Gregg Houck Civil Engineer, City DPW Director, Ithaca Youth Bureau 8 FUNDING SOURCES: CASS PARK PAVILION & BATHROOM IMPROVEMENTS Local Funding Grant: NYS Office of Parks… Grant: Lea Webb...CREST Grant: IURA CDBG Expected 1/7/2025 Grant: NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities 9 10 Current Bathrooms at Pavilion Area 11 Current Large Pavilion 12 Restroom/Storage Building at Union Field 13 Design for New Large Pavilion 14 Material Look for New Restroom/Storage Building 15 CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-6590 Mayor's Office Shaniqua Lewis, Deputy City Clerk TO:COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING -A FROM:Mayor Robert Cantelmo DATE:January 14, 2026 RE:Professional Conduct and Council Oversight ITEM #:5.1 MEMORANDUM Resolution Affirming Council Support for City Staff and Establishing Professional Conduct and Oversight Protocols ATTACHMENTS: Resolution Affirming Council Support for City Staff and Establishing Professional Conduct and Oversight Protocols.pdf 16 Resolution Affirming Council Support for City Staff and Establishing Professional Conduct and Oversight Protocols WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca recognizes that City employees are the foundation of effective, transparent, and equitable governance; and WHEREAS, the integrity, professionalism, and institutional knowledge of City staff are essential to maintaining continuity of operations and public confidence in municipal government; and WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges that administrative staff must be free to perform their duties without undue political pressure or interference; and WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Common Council to provide clear policy direction, adopt budgets, and conduct oversight consistent with the City Charter while maintaining appropriate boundaries with administrative personnel; and WHEREAS, the Council is committed to restoring trust, professionalism, and respect between the legislative and administrative branches of city government; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby reaffirms its deep gratitude to all City staff for their continued service, dedication, and resilience, and recognizes their central role in sustaining the daily operations and success of the City of Ithaca; and RESOLVED, that the Common Council reaffirms that City staff are accountable to the City Manager or other appropriate supervisors under the Charter, and that the Council’s proper role is to establish policy, adopt budgets, and provide oversight through defined procedures; and RESOLVED, that City staff who experience or witness inappropriate political pressure, harassment, or undue interference from any member of Council shall have the right to report such incidents directly and confidentially to the Mayor, who shall review and, if warranted, refer the matter to the City Attorney, Human Resources, or the Common Council for appropriate follow-up; and RESOLVED, that to preserve Council’s legitimate oversight authority, any request for the presence of City staff before Council for the purpose of providing detailed operational information shall require a written request by three (3) members of Council submitted to the Mayor with at least five (5) business days’ notice prior to a meeting, identifying the specific topic of inquiry and the questions to be addressed; and RESOLVED, that upon receipt of such a request, the Mayor shall coordinate with the appropriate department head or City Manager to arrange staff participation at a regular meeting, ensuring that the inquiry remains limited to the defined subject matter and consistent with the Charter’s separation of powers; and RESOLVED, that the Common Council shall exercise its oversight role through established best practices, including: (a) obtaining information through the Mayor, City Manager, or City Clerk; (b) directing all operational inquiries to staff through appropriate administrative channels; 17 (c) conducting oversight hearings only on well-defined policy or fiscal subjects; and (d) refraining from public commentary or statements that disparage individual staff or departments; and RESOLVED, that “aldermanic interference” is hereby defined as any action by an individual member of Council that (1) directs, commands, coerces, or attempts to influence the day-to-day administrative decisions of City staff; (2) seeks to bypass established supervisory hierarchies; or (3) uses one’s elected position to obtain preferential treatment, privileged information, or special consideration from staff outside of formal processes; and RESOLVED, that violations of these professional standards shall constitute misconduct under the Council’s Code of Conduct, and may result in written reprimand, formal censure, temporary suspension of direct staff access privileges, or removal from liaison or external appointments; and RESOLVED, that a censure shall require a majority vote of the full Council; and RESOLVED, that all such actions shall be documented in the Council record and transmitted to the City Clerk for inclusion in the official proceedings; and RESOLVED, that nothing herein shall be construed to limit the Mayor’s Charter or Council- authorized policy functions, including the authority established by the “2025–2026 Mayoral Advisory Committees and Legislative Priorities” resolution, or to restrict staff participation in policy research, drafting, or advisory work conducted under the Mayor’s direction in their role as the City’s chief elected official and executive agent of the Common Council; and RESOLVED, that nothing herein shall restrict the participation of City staff in Council-authorized committees, working groups, or similar bodies provided such participation occurs with the knowledge of the Mayor and the City Manager and is limited to providing technical, policy, or operational expertise at the request of those bodies; and RESOLVED, that the Mayor shall transmit this resolution to all City employees and include it in annual ethics and conduct briefings for elected officials and department heads, ensuring shared understanding of the standards of conduct, oversight, and mutual respect that underpin effective municipal service. 18