HomeMy WebLinkAboutTown 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