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Home My WebLink About2023 Town Supervisor's State of the Town MessageTown Supervisor’s 2023 State of the Town Message The Town of Ithaca is doing well on all fronts. Perhaps one way of determining our efficacy is to assess if we are living up to our mission and vision statements which were adopted by the Town Board in 2022 (see below). I believe that we are. The Town of Ithaca is a unique municipality and recognizes and embraces that (some refer to us as a “croissant” around the City of Ithaca). We honor our history and seek out ways to highlight the land’s Indigenous past and present. We seek innovative ways to engage with our constituents and are pleased to report that our monthly newsletter is well received. Our new website is much easier to navigate than the previous site and is visually more pleasing. We hope that Open Gov will continue to be embraced as a tool by residents (as we continue to work on a few lingering issues). We are bemused by the attention that the tree in our historic lobby received in 2022 so be sure to come in and see the Valentine’s Day decorations. While you are in the lobby, look at the display cases as we regularly post new material. We have: • An engaged Town Board • Excellent department heads and committed staff • Collaborative relationship with sister municipalities We are: • Financially sound and financially prudent • Excited about South Hill’s Traditional Neighborhood Development plan • Motivated by our new Inlet Valley Overlay Zone opportunities • Nimble for when unexpected issues arise • Committed to making our facilities more energy efficient • Implementing and exploring additional initiatives from a sustainability perspective • Jazzed about our parks, trails and preserves as we continue to seek ways to improve them • Setting the stage to be more proactive in fostering economic development • Known for being a good employer • Innovative The list of 2022 work and initiatives is voluminous. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Rod Howe, Town Supervisor Vision The Town of Ithaca will be a desirable place where any person can live, work, learn, and play, offering a vibrant mix of rural, suburban, and urban features, including treasured natural resources. Mission We promote quality of life, equity, and safety of all Town of Ithaca residents through planning, innovation, and continual adaptation to change. The Town strives to: • provide responsive services • be fiscally responsible • protect and preserve its open spaces and water resources • implement sustainable initiatives • pursue beneficial intermunicipal collaborations. Town of Ithaca Supervisor’s 2022 Report and 2023 Priorities 2022 Accomplishments Community oriented Participation in Ithaca Festival Parade Successful Tree Planting event Networking/communication related Regular phone calls with county and peers Monthly Town Supervisor calls Regular phone calls with county leadership Weekly Management Team meetings TCCOG participation (including energy committee) Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) leadership role Presentations to Ithaca City Council and Tompkins County Legislature (in partnership w/ Deputy) Cornell University Borehole Observatory advisory committee Developing Town presence on social media (Twitter, FaceBook) Regular changes to material in lobby display cases Town involvement with Spirit of Tompkins initiative Administrative Town of Ithaca and Teamsters Local 317 Union Contract (2023-24) successfully negotiated 2023 Budget adopted Open Gov (tracked) New website (tracked) COVID was still an issue in 2022 but less so than the previous two years Onboarding of two new Town Board members Town Mission and Vision statements adopted Town Board technology updated for better experience with Zoom and YouTube Progress Made (and will continue into 2023) Green New Deal action items (including Electrification initiative with Bloc Power) Community Choice Aggregation Inlet Valley Overlay Zone Parks, Preserves, Trails and Recreation Plan Historic preservation ordinance drafted that will cover both the City and the Town South Hill Traditional Neighborhood Development/New Neighborhood Code South Hill Trail Extension Game Farm Road crossing Successful completion of streetlights’ conversion Deputy Supervisor (2022) Short-term rentals local law update South Hill TND Zoning and Regulating Plan Community Choice Aggregation enabling legislation and implementation plan Intermunicipal discussions pertaining to wastewater Director of Planning Interview Committee 2023 Priorities that are not mentioned in “Progress Made” above (Combined for Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor) • Community event at Tutelo Park • Dissolve lighting districts • Explore historic preservation funding opportunities for “greening” Town Hall • Explore Funding opportunities for other key initiatives • Consider creating a transportation ad hoc committee to update Transportation Plan • Reengage economic development committee • Follow-up with housing discussion with Ithaca Area Economic Development • If board approves, get mezzanine rooms ready to be rented • Cannabis related decisions • Updated solar law adopted • 2024 Budget