HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-01-17 Common Council Meeting AgendaOFFICIAL NOTICE OF MEETING
***REVISED TO ADD A NEW ITEM 9.1***
A Regular meeting of the Common Council will be held on Wednesday, February 1,
2017, at 6:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall, 108 East Green
Street, Ithaca, New York. Your attendance is requested.
AGENDA
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
2. ADDITIONS TO OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA:
3. PROCLAMATIONS/AWARDS:
4. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS:
4.1 Presentation of Quarterly Employee Recognition Award
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS BEFORE COUNCIL:
5.1 Presentation on an invasive species project completed by the Parks and Forestry
Division of the City of Ithaca through Grant Funding – City Forester Jeanne
Grace
6. PETITIONS AND HEARINGS OF PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL:
7. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR – COMMON COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR:
7.1 Announcement of the Availability of the 2017 Annual Disclosure Forms of
the Mayor and Common Council
8. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
City Administration Committee:
8.1 Attorney’s Office - Amendment to Personnel Roster - Resolution
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.1 Mayor Myrick - An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 215 of the City of Ithaca
Municipal Code entitled “Human Rights” to Add Article VI, entitled “Sanctuary
City”
10. PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
10.1 Annual Common Council Concurrence that the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Board be Lead Agency in Environmental Review for Site Plan
Review Projects for which the Common Council is an Involved Agency -
Resolution
10.2 Community Housing Development Fund, Funding Round #13 — Authorization for
Disbursement of $50,000 Pursuant to an Executed Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)
Common Council Meeting Agenda
February 1, 2017
Page 2
11. CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE:
11.1 Support for Issuance of Driver’s Licenses to New York State Residents
Regardless of Immigration Status - Resolution
11.2 Fire Department – Request to Amend Budget for Purchase of Fire Police Vehicle
- Resolution
11.3 Human Resources – Re-Establishment of the Standard Work Day for Elected
and Appointed Officials - Resolution
11.4 City Controller’s Report
12. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:
13. INDIVIDUAL MEMBER – FILED RESOLUTIONS:
13.1 Alderperson Murtagh - Ithaca Common Council Resolution Opposing Repeal of
the Affordable Care Act
14. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS:
14.1 Reappointment to Various Boards and Committees – Resolution
15. REPORTS OF COMMON COUNCIL LIAISONS:
16. REPORT OF CITY CLERK:
17. REPORT OF CITY ATTORNEY:
18. MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
18.1 Approval of the December 7, 2016 Common Council Meeting Minutes –
Resolution
18.2 Approval of the January 4, 2017 Common Council Meeting Minutes – Resolution
19. ADJOURNMENT:
If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you
to fully participate in the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 274-6570 at least 48
hours before the meeting.
______________________________
Julie Conley Holcomb, CMC
City Clerk
Date: January 26, 2017
8. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
City Administration Committee:
8.1 Attorney’s Office - Amendment to Personnel Roster - Resolution
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office requests that the workweek for one Assistant City
Attorney be reduced from 40 hours per week to 32 hours per week; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney is confident that this reduction will nonetheless enable the
City Attorney’s Office to support the City’s needs; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That effective February 5, 2017, the workweek of one Assistant City
Attorney position be and hereby is reduced from forty (40) hours/week to thirty-two (32)
hours/week pursuant to the employee’s request; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the
New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System, the standard workday for
this position shall be established at six and four/tenths (6.4) hours per day (thirty-two
(32) hours per week).
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.1 Mayor Myrick - An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 215 of the City of Ithaca
Municipal Code entitled “Human Rights” to Add Article VI, entitled “Sanctuary
City”
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca’s Mayor and Common Council hereby affirm and express
that the core values of the City of Ithaca include, regardless of nationality or citizenship
status, creating a climate of welcome and inclusiveness, protecting and preserving the
values of democracy and freedom, and respecting the human dignity and human rights
of all persons; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca has long embraced refugees fleeing persecution and
violence,1 and, as recently as June 1, 2016, the Mayor and Common Council welcomed
future refugees to join the community and reaffirmed the City’s commitment to refugees
that already made their home in Ithaca;2 and
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order
that suspended the settlement of refugees to the United States for 120 days, thereby
needlessly stranding a number of refugee families that had nearly completed the
already extensive refugee vetting process and intended to relocate to Ithaca in coming
months; and
WHEREAS, in the face of Donald Trump’s Presidency, the City of Ithaca remains
committed to maintaining its core values and dedication to refugee and immigrant
communities; now therefore
ORDINANCE NO. 2017-
BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca as
follows:
Section 1. Findings of Fact. The Common Council finds that:
1. Since at least 2007, the City of Ithaca has maintained a policy of non-involvement
in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.3
2. Immigration law and enforcement are an area of federal, not local, concern, and
the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents the federal
government from commandeering state or local agencies or officers to implement
federal policies or regulations.
1 City of Ithaca Common Council Minutes. July 10, 1985, pages 4-6, https://lfweb.tompkins-
co.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?dbid=13&id=389761&page=1&cr=1
2 City of Ithaca Common Council Minutes. June 1, 2016, pages 4-5, https://lfweb.tompkins-
co.org/WebLink/13/doc/569531/Page1.aspx
3 City of Ithaca Common Council Minutes. April 4, 2007, pages 10-11, https://lfweb.tompkins-
co.org/weblink/13/doc/390199/Page1.aspx
3. The obtaining of pertinent information, which is essential to the performance of a
wide variety of state and local governmental functions, may in some cases be
difficult or impossible if some expectation of confidentiality is not preserved.
Preserving confidentiality may in turn require that state and local governments
regulate the use of such information by their employees, including confidential
information in the possession of City agencies relating to immigration status or
other personal or private attributes. As such, confidential information in the
possession of City agencies relating to immigration status or personal or private
attributes should be disclosed to federal immigration authorities only as provided
in Section 215-41 as created by this ordinance.
4. Nevertheless, on January 25, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order
that, among other things, seeks to punish municipalities that his appointees deem
“sanctuary jurisdictions.”
5. In recognition of the above findings of fact, and consistent with the Tenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution, the enactment of this Article is
intended to achieve the following objectives, each reflective of the objectives set
out in New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s January 19, 2017 Model
Sanctuary Provisions4:
a. The City should not engage in activities solely for the purpose of enforcing
federal immigration law.
b. The City should only honor warrantless detainer requests from the federal
government under limited, specified circumstances.
c. The City should not honor requests for certain non-public, sensitive
information about an individual without a judicial warrant.
d. The City should not provide the federal government access to individuals in
their custody for questioning solely for immigration enforcement.
e. The City should protect the due process rights of individuals as to whom
federal immigration enforcement requests have been made.
f. City resources should not be used by the federal government to create a
registry based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or
national origin.
g. City agencies should limit the collection of immigration-related information
and ensure nondiscriminatory access to City benefits and services.
h. The City should report data to the public regarding detainer and notification
requests from the federal government for monitoring purposes.
Section 2. Creation of Article VI, Chapter 215. Chapter 215 of the City of Ithaca
Municipal Code entitled “Human Rights Protection” is hereby amended to add a new
Article VI entitled “Sanctuary City”. Such Article shall read as follows:
Article VI – Sanctuary City
4 Guidance Concerning Local Authority Participation in Immigration Enforcement And Model Sanctuary
Provisions, January 19, 2017, https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/anticipating-major-changes-federal-
immigration-enforcement-ag-schneiderman-provides.
The purpose and intent of this Article is to recognize 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.
§ 215-38. Definitions.
When used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CIVIL IMMIGRATION DETAINER (also called a “CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANT”)
A detainer issued pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 287.7 or any similar request from ICE or
CPB for detention of a person suspected of violating civil immigration law.5
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including any successor federal agency(s)
tasked with immigration, customs, and/or border enforcement.
JUDICIAL WARRANT
A warrant based on probable cause and issued by an Article III federal judge or a
federal magistrate judge that authorizes federal immigration authorities to take
into custody the person who is the subject of the warrant. A judicial warrant does
not include a civil immigration warrant, administrative warrant, or other document
signed only by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Customs
and Border Protection (“CBP”) officials.
ICE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including any successor federal
agency(s) tasked with immigration, customs, and border enforcement.
IPD
Ithaca Police Department, including entities, efforts, and initiatives jointly
operated or pursued by officers of the Ithaca Police Department, acting in their official
capacity, and others (e.g., the Joint Special Weapons and Tactics Team).
PROBABLE CAUSE
More than mere suspicion or that something is at least more probable than not.
Probable cause and “reasonable cause,” as that latter term is used in the New
York State criminal procedure code, are equivalent standards.
§ 215-39. Prohibition of certain enforcement activities solely for the purpose of
enforcing federal immigration laws.
A. IPD shall not stop, question, interrogate, investigate, or arrest an individual based
solely on any of the following:
a. Actual or suspected immigration or citizenship status; or
5See (“Immigration Detainer—Request for Voluntary Action”) (5/15), available at
https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2016/I-247D.PDF
b. A “civil immigration warrant,” administrative warrant, or an immigration
detainer in the individual’s name, including those identified in the National
Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
B. IPD shall not inquire about the immigration status of an individual, including a
crime victim, a witness, or a person who calls or approaches the police seeking
assistance, unless necessary to investigate criminal activity by that individual.
C. IPD shall not perform the functions of a federal immigration officer or otherwise
engage in the enforcement of federal immigration law, whether pursuant to
Section 1357(g) of Title 8 of the United States Code or under any other law,
regulation, or policy.
§ 215-40. Civil immigration detainer requests.
A. IPD may respond affirmatively to a “civil immigration detainer” from ICE or CBP
to detain or transfer an individual for immigration enforcement or investigation
purposes for up to 48 hours ONLY IF the request is accompanied by a judicial
warrant,
1. EXCEPT THAT IPD may, upon the written legal opinion of the Office of
the City Attorney, detain a person for up to 48 hours on a “civil immigration
detainer” in the absence of a judicial warrant IF
a. (1) there is probable cause to believe that the individual has illegally
re-entered the country after a previous removal or return as defined
by 8 U.S.C. § 1326 and (2) the individual has been convicted at any
time of (i) a “violent or serious crime” as defined in subsection 14-
154(a)(6) of the Administrative Code of the City of New York6 or (ii)
a federal crime or crime under the law of another state that would
constitute a predicate felony conviction, as defined under the New
York Penal Law, for any of the preceding felonies; or
b. there is probable cause to believe that the individual has or is
engaged in terrorist activity.
§ 215-41. ICE or CBP requests for certain non-public, sensitive information
A. IPD may, upon the written legal opinion of the Office of the City Attorney,
respond affirmatively to an ICE or CBP request for non-public information about
an individual —including but not limited to non-public information about an
individual’s release, home address, or work address—ONLY IF the request is
accompanied by a judicial warrant,
1. EXCEPT THAT nothing in this law prohibits IPD from:
a. sending to or receiving from any local, state, or federal agency — as
per 8 U.S.C. § 1373 — (i) information regarding an individual’s
country of citizenship or (ii) a statement of the individual’s
immigration status; or
b. disclosing information about an individual’s criminal arrests or
convictions, where disclosure of such information about the
6 The text of N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 14-154(a)(6) is available at https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-
york/ny-laws/ny_new_york_city_administrative_code_14-154.
individual is otherwise permitted by state law or required pursuant
to subpoena or court order; or
c. disclosing information about an individual’s juvenile arrests or
delinquency or youthful offender adjudications, where disclosure of
such information about the individual is otherwise permitted by
state law or required pursuant to subpoena or court order.
2. IPD shall limit the information collected from individuals concerning
immigration or citizenship status to that necessary to perform agency
duties and shall prohibit the use or disclosure of such information in any
manner that violates federal, state, or local law.
§ 215-42. Questioning individuals in custody solely for immigration enforcement
purposes.
IPD shall not provide ICE or CBP with access to an individual in its custody or the
use of IPD facilities to question or interview such individual if ICE or CBP’s sole
purpose is enforcement of federal immigration law. A determination under this
section that ICE or CBP’s sole purpose is NOT enforcement of federal
immigration law may only be reached upon the written legal opinion of the Office
of the City Attorney.
§ 215-43. Due process and notice
A. IPD shall not delay bail and/or release from custody upon posting of bail solely
because of (i) an individual’s immigration or citizenship status, (ii) a civil
immigration warrant, or (iii) an ICE or CBP request —for the purposes of
immigration enforcement—for notification about, transfer of, detention of, or
interview or interrogation of that individual.
B. Upon receipt of an ICE or CBP detainer, transfer, notification, interview or
interrogation request, IPD shall provide a copy of that request to the individual
named therein and inform the individual whether IPD will comply with the request
before communicating its response to the requesting agency.
C. Individuals in IPD’s custody shall be subject to IPD’s booking, processing,
release, and transfer procedures, policies, and practices, regardless of actual or
suspected citizenship or immigration status.
§ 215-44. Prohibition on the use of City resources to create any registry based on
race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
Neither the City of Ithaca nor any City personnel may use City funds, facilities,
property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the
investigation or enforcement of any federal program requiring registration of
individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or
national origin.
§ 215-45. Collection of immigration-related information; access to City benefits
and services.
A. City personnel shall not inquire about or request proof of immigration status or
citizenship when providing services or benefits, except where the receipt of such
services or benefits are contingent upon one’s immigration or citizenship status
or where inquiries are otherwise lawfully required by federal, state, or local laws.
B. IPD shall establish a Language Assistance Policy for individuals with Limited
English Proficiency and provide interpretation or translation services consistent
with that policy.
§ 215-46. Collection and reports of data.
A. IPD shall record, solely to create the reports described in subsection (b) below,
the following for each immigration detainer, notification, transfer, interview, or
interrogation request received from ICE or CBP:
1. the subject individual’s race, gender, and place of birth;
2. date and time that the subject individual was taken into custody, the
location where the individual was held, and the arrest charges;
3. date and time of IPD receipt of the request;
4. the requesting agency;
5. immigration or criminal history indicated on the request form, if any;
6. whether the request was accompanied by any documentation regarding
immigration status or proceedings, e.g., a judicial warrant;
7. whether a copy of the request was provided to the individual and, if yes,
the date and time of notification;
8. whether the individual consented to the request;
9. whether the individual requested to confer with counsel regarding the
request;
10. IPD’s response to the request, including a decision not to fulfill the
request;
11. if applicable, the date and time that ICE or CBP took custody of, or was
otherwise given access to, the individual; and
12. date and time of the individual’s release from IPD’s custody.
B. IPD shall provide annual reports to the Common Council and the City Clerk, who
shall make the same publicly available, regarding the information collected in
subsection (A) above in an aggregated form that is stripped of all personal
identifiers in order that IPD and the community may monitor IPD’s compliance
with all applicable law.
Section 3. Severability. 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 portion.
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.
10. PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
10.1 Annual Common Council Concurrence that the City of Ithaca Planning and
Development Board be Lead Agency in Environmental Review for Site Plan
Review Projects for which the Common Council is an Involved Agency -
Resolution
WHEREAS, 6 NYCRR Part 617 of the State Environmental Quality Review Law and
Chapter 176.6 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code entitled “Environmental Quality
Review”, 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, State Law also specifies that when an agency proposes to directly
undertake, fund or approve a Type I Action or an Unlisted Action undergoing
coordinated review with other involved agencies, it must notify them that a lead agency
must be agreed upon within 30 calendar days of the date that the Environmental
Assessment Form (EAF) or draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was
transmitted to them; and
WHEREAS, Projects submitted to the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board
for Site Plan Review and Approval, at times involve approval or funding from Common
Council, making Council an involved agency in environmental review; and
WHEREAS, in order to avoid delays in establishing a Lead Agency and to make the
environmental review process more efficient, it is desirous to continue the agreement in
which the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board will assume Lead Agency
status for such projects; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the State Environmental Quality Review Law and the
City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, involved agencies are provided
with project information and environmental forms for their review, as well as all
environmental determinations; and
WHEREAS, on April 7, 2015 Common Council did consent to the Planning &
Development Board acting as Lead Agency in environmental review for site plan review
projects for which Common Council has been identified as an Involved Agency through
December 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Common Council did consent to the Planning & Development Board acting
as Lead Agency in environmental review for site plan review projects for which Common
Council has been identified as an Involved Agency through December 31, 2016; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council does hereby consent to the Planning &
Development Board acting as Lead Agency in environmental review for site plan review
projects for which Common Council has been identified as an Involved Agency through
December 31, 2017; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That for any future project Common Council may withhold or withdraw its
consent should it so desire.
10.2 Community Housing Development Fund, Funding Round #13 —
Authorization for Disbursement of $50,000 Pursuant to an Executed Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) – Resolution
WHEREAS, the Community Housing Development Fund (CHDF) was established in 2009,
and renewed in 2015, by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among and between the
City of Ithaca, Tompkins County and Cornell University to raise and award funds to
increase the supply of permanently affordable housing in the County; and
WHEREAS, on an annual basis Cornell University contributes $200,000 to the CHDF and
the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County each contribute $100,000; and
WHEREAS, the CHDF Program Oversight Committee (POC) recommends round #13
funding of $356,250 for the following affordable housing projects:
and;
WHEREAS, Common Council determined that City of Ithaca contributions to the CHDF
should be used solely to assist projects located within the City of Ithaca; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding, Tompkins County
administers the CHDF, including collection of contributions to the CHDF and distribution of
funds to project sponsors; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation of a facility in-kind on the same site is a type II action under
SEQR/CEQRO, therefore no environmental review is required for the INHS Scattered Site
Rental Housing Preservation project; and
Community Housing Development Fund
Round #13 Recommended Funding Awards
Applica
nt Project # Units Location
Funding ($1,000s)
Cornel
l
Count
y
City Total
Second
Wind
Cottages
, Inc.
Second Wind
Cottages
(units #15-
#18)
4 rental
(T) Newfield
-1435
Elmira Rd.
37.5 18.75 0 56.25
INHS,
Inc
INHS
Scattered Site
Rental
Housing
Preservation
98
rental
(C) Ithaca
-14 various
properties
200 50 50 300
Totals 237.5 68.75 50
356.2
5
WHEREAS, prior City contributions to the CHDF were derived from Gateway Loan
proceeds administered by the Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency that originated from sale of
City-owned land for the Eddygate project located at 110 Dryden Road, but such funds
have been depleted; and
WHEREAS, as part of the 2016 Budget, funds were placed in Restricted Contingency to
fund the City’s contribution to the CHDF; now; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Common Council for the City of Ithaca hereby authorizes an
expenditure of up to $50,000 to Tompkins County for the following affordable housing
projects to implement the round #13 recommended funding awards through the
Community Housing Development Fund:
Project Name: INHS Scattered Site Rental Housing Preservation Project
Amount: $50,000
Applicant: Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
Project Summary: Renovation of 98 rental housing units in 44 buildings located
throughout the City of Ithaca
; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby transfers $50,000 from Account A1990
Restricted Contingency to the following account:
A8020-5700 Planning Contracts $50,000 to fund City/County/Cornell Housing
Trust city portion)
; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Mayor, subject to advice of the City Attorney, is hereby authorized
to execute a fiscal agency agreement with Tompkins County to implement this resolution.
11. CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE:
11.1 Support for Issuance of Driver’s Licenses to New York State Residents
Regardless of Immigration Status - Resolution
WHEREAS, many New Yorkers are being denied access to driver’s licenses that they
urgently need to drive to work, buy groceries, take their children to school, travel to
appointments, attend religious worship, or take family members to hospitals in cases of
emergency; and
WHEREAS, many New Yorkers who cannot obtain driver’s licenses because of their
immigration status live in fear that they will be arrested during a routine traffic stop, and
because they do not have a driver’s license they will be vulnerable to deportation and
being separated from their families; and
WHEREAS, licensing drivers improves public safety by ensuring that everyone driving
on our roads is properly licensed, informed of our traffic laws, and is operating a
registered, inspected, and insured vehicle; and
WHEREAS, licensed drivers are more likely to stay at the scene of an accident to aid
police and emergency workers and to exchange insurance information with other
affected motorists; and
WHEREAS, licensed drivers who witness crimes will be more comfortable reporting
them to the police and cooperating in investigations; and
WHEREAS, allowing immigrants to obtain a driver’s license regardless of immigration
status would mean an increase in revenue for New York State from license and
registration fees; and
WHEREAS, removing immigration status barriers to driver’s licenses will reduce the
number of accidents involving uninsured motorists, leading to lower auto insurance
premiums for all New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, there are twelve states across the United States that already provide
access to licenses to all residents, regardless of immigration status, including our
neighboring states of Connecticut and Vermont; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council expresses our collective desire for safety and
security for all of our residents and, further, our commitment to pursuing the common
good by ensuring shared resources such as roads and highways be accessed and
utilized responsibly and safely; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council recognizes immigration law to be a federal
concern; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council calls upon the New York State legislature and
Governor Cuomo to promptly ensure the issuance of driver’s licenses to all qualified
New York residents, regardless of immigration status; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Clerk forward a true copy of this Resolution to Governor
Cuomo, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, and State Senator Tom O’Mara.
11.2 Fire Department – Request to Amend Budget for Purchase of Fire Police
Vehicle - Resolution
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Police is a unit of the City of Ithaca Fire Department
comprised of members of Neriton Fire Company No. 9; and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Police Unit responds to emergencies requiring traffic and
crowd control; and
WHEREAS, the work of the Fire Police involves the use of barricades, flares, portable
traffic control signs, scene lighting, and traffic cones; and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca Fire Department does not have a vehicle to permanently store
and make available for use for carrying traffic control equipment; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Fire Police Unit currently use their personal vehicles to
transport traffic control equipment to emergency incidents; and
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2016, Common Council authorized, by resolution, to accept up
to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) from Neriton Fire Company No. 9 to fund the
purchase of a used vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Chief and the members of Neriton Fire Company No. 9 have been
unable to find a used vehicle acceptable for use as a Fire Police Vehicle; and
WHEREAS, Neriton Fire Company No. 9 has offered to fund the purchase of a new
vehicle, up to forty-one dollars ($41,000); and
WHEREAS, Neriton Fire Company No. 9 has also offered to provide funding for
retrofitting, and major repairs of the Fire Police vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has recommended that the Fire Police vehicle be owned
by the City of Ithaca for it to be eligible for insurance and registration under the City of
Ithaca; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Police vehicle, when not in use, will be parked or stored on City
owned property; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Chief supports the request of Neriton Fire Company No. 9 to
purchase a new vehicle for the Fire Police unit; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council approves the acceptance of
funds from Neriton Fire Company No. 9 for the purchase of a new vehicle for the Fire
Police unit; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby amends the 2017 authorized City of Ithaca
Fire Department budget to account for the funds donated by Neriton Fire Company No.
9 as follows:
Increase Revenue Account:
3410-2705-12250 Donations $55,000
Increase Appropriation Account
A3410-5215-12250 Vehicles $41,000
A3410-5476-12250 Equipment Maint. $14,000
and; be it further
RESOLVED, That the cost for registration, insurance, fuel and routine maintenance will
be paid for out of existing City of Ithaca Fire Department funding; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council authorizes the purchase of a Fire Police Vehicle at
a cost not to exceed funds provided by Neriton Fire Company No. 9; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Common Council authorizes the retrofitting and major repairs of the
Fire Police vehicle in an amount not to exceed funding provided by Neriton Fire
Company No. 9.
11.3 Human Resources – Re-Establishment of the Standard Work Day for
Elected and Appointed Officials - Resolution
WHEREAS, the New York State Local Retirement System Regulation 315.4 requires
that all participating employers pass a Resolution for all paid elected and appointed
officials, who are members of the retirement system at the start of their new term or
subsequent terms; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s new term began on January 1, 2016 and the Chief of Staff
position was created in the 2013 budget, but not by resolution which would have
established the standard workday; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council hereby re-establishes the following standard
workday for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the New York
State and Local Employees’ Retirement System:
Eight (8) hour workday; Forty (40) hour workweek:
Mayor
Chief of Staff
13. INDIVIDUAL MEMBER – FILED RESOLUTIONS:
13.1 Alderperson Murtagh - Ithaca Common Council Resolution Opposing
Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act has transformed the delivery of healthcare in the
United States, expanding access to healthcare for millions of people and establishing
the basic principle that all Americans should have access to quality, affordable
healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act, through the New York State of Health exchange,
has succeeded in cutting the rate of uninsured New Yorkers in half, by expanding
Medicaid eligibility, covering young adults until age 26, offering free preventative care,
and prohibiting discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, among other benefits;
and
WHEREAS, repeal of the Affordable Care Act, without an immediate, equally effective
and comprehensive replacement, would result in 18 million people in the United States
losing their health insurance and premiums in the non-group market increasing by as
much as 25 percent in the first year of repeal, according to data compiled by the
Congressional Budget Office; and
WHEREAS, nearly 3 million New Yorkers could lose their health insurance, including
8,000 residents of Tompkins County; and
WHEREAS, repeal of the Affordable Care Act could deal a costly blow to New York
State counties, which stand to lose $600 million in federal funding if the Affordable Care
Act is repealed, potentially contributing to a rise in the property tax burden for Tompkins
County residents; and
WHEREAS, repeal of the Affordable Care Act is being proposed in conjunction with
efforts to cut Medicaid reimbursement funding to Planned Parenthood, thereby
imperiling the future of those who rely on Planned Parenthood for critical reproductive
and sexual health services; and
WHEREAS, repeal of the Affordable Care Act could have negative impact on New York
State’s hospital community, upending insurance coverage for millions and preventing
hospitals from carrying out their mission, including Cayuga Medical Center, which could
stand to lose millions in federal funding if the Affordable Care Act is repealed; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Common Council urges our Congressional
representatives to vote against any repeal of the Affordable Care Act without an
immediate, equally effective and comprehensive replacement; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the city’s representatives in Congress.
14. MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS:
14.1 Reappointment to Building Code Board of Appeals – Resolution
RESOLVED, That Richard Guttridge be reappointed to the Building Code Board of
Appeals with a term to expire December 31, 2019.
14.2 Reappointments to Housing Board of Review – Resolution
RESOLVED, That John Barradas be reappointed to the Housing Board of Review with
a term to expire December 31, 2019; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That Joseph Steuer be reappointed to the Housing Board of Review with a
term to expire December 31, 2019.