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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 Fall NewsletterQUESTIONS? Call 273-1656 between 6:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or e-mail us at publicworks@town.ithaca.ny.us. Fall Brush and Leaf Pickup The Public Works Department will be picking up brush, limbs, and branches starting Monday, October 17th, and will continue throughout the Town until finished. All yard waste must be at the roadside by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection. The intention of the Town’s roadside collection service is for residents of the Town of Ithaca outside the Village of Cayuga Heights to put a reasonable amount of yard waste (as is gener- ated during a normal year) out at the roadside for pick up by the Town’s crews. Clearing of building lots and hedgerows is beyond a normal amount of material. Roadside collection crews reserve the right to not pick up excessively large volumes of brush and improp- erly piled materials. Brush you collect before the first day of the pickup needs to remain out of the rights-of-way until a couple of days before the pick up; this will assure your safety and that of your neigh- bors. Errant brush piles can wreak havoc on the stormwater systems and can create a hazard for walkers and cyclists. You may make arrangements to drop your own yard waste off at the Public Works Facil- ity at 106 Seven Mile Drive, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. year round. WhAT TO dO • Bag leaves and garden waste in biodegrad- able paper bags • Pile brush in neat bundles parallel to the roadway. • Put out limbs no larger than 8 inches in diameter (it is not necessary to cut limbs into small pieces). • Limit brush piles to the size of a pickup load (approximately 4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet in size). • Place brush and filled bags of yard waste along road shoulder or at the end of the driveway if no shoulder exits. WhAT NOT TO dO • Do not tie bundles of brush. • Do not place any materials in a ditch. • Do not put out metal, rocks, glass, roots, stumps, or lumber scraps. • Do not put brush out until the week before collection. T O W N O F I T H A C A Autum n FALL 2011 ISSUE Leaf Collection Leaf collection (including leaves, pine needles, dead flowers, garden waste, and grass clip- pings) will start at 7 a.m. on Monday, October 31, 2011. Leaves may be raked to the shoulder of the road or bagged in biodegradable paper leaf bags (30 gallon bags are available at many stores in the area). Please fill the bags and place them on the road shoulder, folding over the openings of the bags to close—do not staple or tape. No plastic bags will be picked up. As in previous years, the Town’s crews will go around the entire Town once with the leaf vacuum. For the rest of the month of November, the crews will pick up paper-bagged leaves on Mondays only. Please note that we may send out leaf crews earlier than October 31st to test our equipment and to pick up paper-bagged leaves before they get wet. TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE INSIDE Sustainability Efforts Property Tax Cap Cost of Fire Protection Capital Projects BAck PAge News Fit for a Dog Income Tax Forms West hill community garden Conservation Board Urges the Town to Use Less Water The Conservation Board has often discussed ways to address challenges associated with rising energy costs and the pollution associated with climate change. As we strive to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our community, our first priority should be lowering the impact caused by the gov- ernment itself. As we ask our citizens to decrease their carbon footprint, we need to prove govern- ment can make changes for a sustainable future. In April 2009, the Town joined the NYS Climate Smart Communities initiative to combat global warming and in 2010, hired Katie Stoner as sus- tainability planner to identify sources of GHG emissions resulting from government operations. Ms. Stoner’s “Town of Ithaca GHG Emissions Inven- tory Report,” available on the Town’s website, has identified electricity used for water treatment as the single largest contribution to GHG. Water is supplied to Town residents by the Bolton Point Municipal Water System, which sits at the base of Cayuga Lake. Water is pumped from Cayuga Lake up to tanks on the Town’s three hills before it flows back down to our faucets. The amount of electricity required to pump water uphill is significant, costing the Town $500,000 annually in energy costs alone. In fact, 45% of the GHG from Town government operations in 2009 came from pumping millions of gallons of Cayuga Lake water uphill. Through water conservation, we can lessen the energy demand, which will save money and reduce GHG emissions. The Town of Ithaca is just one of the municipalities involved in Bolton Point’s operation. Convincing all five partners to structure prices to promote conser- vation would give residents a financial incentive to make less GHG. Since pumping lake water uphill is the largest energy cost to the Town and the single largest source of climate change pollution, the Con- servation Board urges Town residents to take an active role in conserving water, saving money, and reducing the Town’s contribution to climate change. Light Pollution “Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial light, including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste. Light pollution wastes energy, affects astronomers and scientists, disrupts global wildlife and ecological balance, and has been linked to negative consequences in human health.” — The International dark Sky Association Every resident and institution can help reduce light pollution by analyzing needs and turning off porch lights, sidewalk lighs, parking lot lights, and even interior lights when not in use. Reducing light- ing not only helps protect human health and the environment, it saves money by reducing energy consumption. It will also help the Town reach its carbon reduction goals. Recognizing the negative effects of light pollution, we’ve established an outdoor lighting law, which is available on our website at www.town.ithaca. ny.us. Click on Local Laws and Codes, then choose Outdoor Lighting Law from the list of attachments. SUSTAINABILITY eFFORTS We have begun a sustainability planning process that will help us to be forward-thinking and resourceful about the manner in which our buildings, facilities, and operations use energy, our waste is reduced and managed, and our people and goods are transported. gOveRNmeNT emISSIONS To determine where to focus our efforts, we conducted a greenhouse gas (GHG) emis- sions inventory of government operations using 2009 as the baseline year. During that year, the Town of Ithaca’s government opera- tions emitted 3,928 tons of carbon dioxide at a cost of $1,015,508. The chart below illus- trates the proportion of emissions per sector, highlighting the areas the Town can achieve deep reductions in GHG emissions. The Town Board committed the Town to the following reduction goals: • 30% reduction in GHG emissions below 2009 levels by 2030 • 80% reduction in GHG emissions below 2009 levels by 2050 A “Government Energy Action Plan” will lay out the specific actions to achieve our goals. This EAP will go before the Town Board for adoption at the October 17th meeting. cOmmUNITY emISSIONS We also conducted an inventory of commu- nity emissions to find the sectors where we have the greatest opportunity to save and to help determine our next steps in setting goals and developing a plan to reduce emis- sions (Figure 2). Community emissions in 2009 totaled 178,413 tons of carbon dioxide. That sounds like a lot, but what does it mean? The amount of GHG emitted by the Town of Ithaca in 2009 is equivalent to any one of the following: • 18,145,016 gallons of gasoline consumed • 3,376,404 barrels of oil consumed • 2,135 tanker trucks’ worth of gasoline • 1,736 passenger vehicles on the road for a year We will be asking Town residents for help in developing the “Community Energy Action Plan,” which will outline the strategies neces- sary to achieve shared goals. Find more information at www.darksky.org memBeRS SOUghT FOR eNeRgY AcTION cOmmITTee Provide guidance to the Town and community. Work toward achieving our goals. Visit: www.town.ithaca.ny.us/sustainability. Figure 1. government emissions Figure 2. Community Emissions Many of the professional firefighters earn more than the highest-paid Town of Ithaca employee – some make over $100,000 per year. The Property Tax cap was passed by New York State with a lot of fanfare and media attention, but what does it really mean? You’re probably wondering how will it affect you and if your property taxes are now guaranteed not be more than 2% higher than last year. This may not be true for a couple of reasons. hOW The TAx cAP WORkS It is a common misconception that the tax cap applies to individual properties. In actual prac- tice, the intent of the tax cap is to limit the total amount of property tax a government can raise (or levy) in a year. The total tax levy is distributed across the assessed value of the town as a whole to determine the property tax rate. To calculate your tax bill, the assessed value of your prop- erty is multiplied by the tax rate. If the assessed value of your property has increased more than 2% from the prior year, it is highly likely your tax amount will also increase more than 2%. The law allows schools and local governments to override the tax cap. For schools, the public has to approve an override with a 60% vote; for municipalities, the governing body has to pass an override with a 60% majority (5 votes of our 7-member Town Board). In 2011, the Town’s property tax levy increased by 6%, with most of this increase used to restore part of the funding that was cut the prior year for fire protection ser- vices. In 2012, it will be necessary to restore the remainder of the fire protection funding, which alone will require a 5% increase in the property tax levy. In addition, a 20% increase in required contributions to the State-managed retirement system and an 8% increase in health insurance costs, both out of our direct control, make it probable that the Town Board will have to over- ride the tax cap in adopting the 2012 budget. NOW FOR The gOOd NeWS Due to a very competitive bidding environment resulting from the slowdown of the economy, various water and road infrastructure projects budgeted for $3.7 million will be completed at an $800,000 savings. We also floated $2,650,000 in bonds at an average of 2.96%. This will save another $500,000 over the life of the bonds com- pared to prior experience. Part of this success is based on Moody’s bond rating issued in August: the Town remained at Aa2 with a positive out- look. Part of Moody’s decision was based on the willingness of the Town to continue improve- ments to our infrastructure – water, sewer, roads, and buildings – even during times of budget- ary constraints. The 2012 budget will include additional infrastructure improvement projects, which are listed in the sidebar to the right. cAPITAL PROJecTS 2011 PROJecTS Project Title Status East Shore Drive Water Main Replacement*November Hungerford Hill Water Pump Station*Complete Snyder Hill Road Water Main Replacement and Road Reconstruction* Complete Forest Home Bridge Replacement and Associated Road Work 2012 Delayed Town Hall Roof Repairs*October *Bids came in under budget 2012 PROJecTS Roadway projects: Forest Home bridge Hanshaw Road sidewalks (County project) Water projects: Northview and Danby Road replacement tanks Penny Lane water main Hungerford Hill water tank repainting Building project: Expand the cold storage and annex buildings to add storage space for vehi- cles and equipment at the Public Works facility. WhAT The PROPeRTY TAx cAP meANS FOR YOU Tax Bills Are coming Town and County Property Tax Bills will be mailed on the last business day of December. Unless your taxes are escrowed, you should receive your tax bill the first week of January. State law stipulates that property owners are responsible for their taxes and any penalties, whether they receive a bill or not. If you don’t receive a bill, call the tax receiver at 273-1721 ext. 114. PRIce TAg FOR FIRe PROTecTION Nearly 54% of the property tax raised in the Town of Ithaca in 2011 was used to purchase fire protection and emergency services at a cost of $3,349,500: $172,000 from the village of Cayuga Heights and the rest, $3,177,500, from the City of Ithaca. WHY THE HUGE DIFFERENCE? While the Village covers a smaller area than the City, the main reason is that the Village’s department is volunteer (with a part-time paid chief) while the City’s is paid professional. Both the Village and City are replacing fire engines in the next year, and the Town pays a portion of those costs, too. WE’VE CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR FIRE PROTECTION. The Town Board believes the current level of cost is not sustainable and is draining the Town of funds needed for maintaining our infrastructure and for other services. The Town owns two fire stations suitable for live-in bunkers (one on South Hill and one on West Hill) and currently managed by the City Fire Department. Our contract with the City gives us the option to purchase co-owned fire equipment should the need arise. We are reluctant to change our long-standing relationship with the City, but the need to reduce fire protection costs is acute. All options are currently being kept open. Income Tax Forms The Town Hall lobby has historically been stocked with income tax forms, but for the last few years, forms have arrived late, incomplete, or not at all. This has lead to frustration and wasted trips for our residents. Good service is important to us. Since we have no control over our supply of tax forms, we can no longer reliably provide this service to resi- dents and have decided to stop carrying forms altogether. Income tax forms are available from these agencies: • Federal tax forms: www.irs.gov • State tax forms: www.tax.ny.gov • Tompkins County Library has forms you can copy for a fee Tax preparation assistance is also available: • Alternatives Federal Credit Union: income guidelines apply. For information, go to their website (www.afcu.org) and type “Vita” in search box and follow the link “Free Tax Preparation Program.” • Lifelong: no income guidelines for seniors (some restrictions for complicated returns) and income guidelines for non-seniors. For information, call 273-1511 or visit www. tclifelong.org. West hill community garden mANdATORY meeTINg The annual fall membership meeting and registration is scheduled for November 2nd from 6 to 8 p.m. Anyone interested in renewing their plot must attend. Ukrainian and Burmese translators are needed at the meeting. Please call Paulette Terwilliger at 273-1721 or send her an email (pterwilliger@town.ithaca. ny.us) if you can help. cLeAN UP dAY This yearly event will be held on Saturday, October 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. This is a good opportunity to fulfill your work commitment and enjoy the comraderie of your fellow gardeners. News Fit for a Dog You can now license your dog for up to three years, or the length of its rabies vaccination, and owners of multiple dogs have the option of getting all their dogs’ licenses on the same renewal schedule. Give us a call or stop in for more information. RABIeS cLINIcS The Tompkins County Health Department sponsors rabies clinics throughout the year. Find the schedule at www.tompkins-co.org/ health/eh/neighborhood/rabies.htm. The Southside Community Center sponsors a twice-monthly rabies clinic. The clinics have a suggested donation of $5 to $10 and require proof of previous immunization for the three-year booster. The SPCA has low-cost spay and neuter pro- grams with liberal income guidelines.