[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6243111,"mediaKeyId","3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616","parentId",3242666,"title","Council told to adopt updated flood ordinance to retain FEMA flood-insurance eligibility; CRS study shows modest premium relief possible","audioSeconds",1201,"startMs",4960000,"endMs",6161000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616&start=4960&end=6161","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616/thumbnail_4960000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6243111/New-York/Council-told-to-adopt-updated-flood-ordinance-to-retain-FEMA-flood-insurance-eligibility-CRS-study-shows-modest-premium-relief-possible","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243111-989570aa8c50fed5ba8c78c7c5fb9972/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130988&Signature=OwQX5-wnH~1UAAWDVsNojDv~D~JB~AvvAD0L8i86PWo0fclqnlVtjf7dIgo7fxpJpplT0I1M1b3LlqD7IK3HXWpbJOsXKqaR25JUeCWaXMkNeAbtCvFruIiVbW~U3Jj~2U5pSEBST6rkSQnNZOl9w39OYCbSsWBPt6iJG9NDTbw~qHLKeCIXlogD4Iy4ZOPlO-0QLEdfLN3yWQzEO1SHxoujHXXzm9J6Z0VoiGu7sq59rV6dThcT5jQDT8-JB1yyEp8XZ8D5KeEF2BSXwzJm2oyvoDexK27cbF1vKnUxiMPFvQCFcrILENeQVDrocrq-q4f3vy-4lBJOi5A0ELTvkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ithaca City","date","2025-05-07T15:22:25Z","article","Ithaca planning staff told the Common Council on April 9 that the city must adopt a repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 (flood damage prevention) and the new FEMA flood maps by a May submission deadline to preserve participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Planning staff and planner Sam Quinn Jacobs described the change as largely an adoption of FEMA’s updated maps and minimum standards. The staff presentation said the local law must be submitted to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with documentation by May 19 so the maps may take effect June 18. The staff memo warned that failing to adopt the law could result in “immediate suspension” from the NFIP, which provides federally backed flood insurance to residential property owners in mapped areas.

Staff also presented a separate, consultant-supported analysis of the Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary FEMA program that reduces premiums for federally backed flood insurance when communities adopt flood-risk–reducing activities. Sam Quinn Jacobs said the city already performs a number of CRS-relevant activities and could apply with current practices; the analysis estimated that, under reasonable assumptions, the city could attain a CRS class in the 8–9 range (roughly a 5–10% premium reduction). The consultants’ modeling showed a potential aggregate policyholder savings on federal flood-insurance premiums of roughly $1.5 million over 20 years in a scenario with no county-wide mitigation project.

However, staff emphasized a key tradeoff: if a flood-mitigation project succeeds in removing a large share of properties from the mapped floodplain, fewer property owners would need NFIP policies and therefore fewer people would benefit from the CRS premium reductions. The staff presentation modeled two scenarios: one without mitigation (projected net premium savings to policyholders over 20 years) and one where mitigation removes about 75% of affected parcels (which reduced the pool of policyholders and produced lower net benefit from CRS participation under the assumptions used).

Councilmembers asked for clarification about public notification and timing. Staff and the city manager said resources and outreach materials are available on the city website and that insurance companies and lenders also notify property owners whose federally backed mortgages will require flood insurance. Council asked staff to issue additional public communications and press materials to explain who is affected and what the deadlines mean for property owners.

The committee voted to advance the repeal-and-replace local law to the May meeting so the city can meet the NFIP deadline; the chair recorded the motion carried unanimously in committee.

Next steps staff laid out include: submitting the local law and documentation to DEC to meet the May 19 submission window; continuing outreach to property owners about insurance options; and deciding whether to pursue CRS participation (staff recommended pursuing application at a modest CRS level while evaluating additional measures that could raise the city’s CRS class).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-09-2025 Common Council Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City planning staff told the Ithaca Common Council on April 9 that the city must adopt a repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 to accept FEMA’s new flood maps and retain eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program; staff also reviewed a Community Rating System study showing modest premium reductions under current practices.","taxTitle","Ithaca City, Tompkins County, New York","taxId",52738,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6243116,"Ithaca council hears wide public comment on proposed zoning change to allow ADUs by right",3146,210000,3356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616&start=210&end=3356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616/thumbnail_210000.jpg","/articles/6243116/New-York/Ithaca-council-hears-wide-public-comment-on-proposed-zoning-change-to-allow-ADUs-by-right","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243116-d952cb60b2384d00fb04622e696939f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130988&Signature=cfjmCAD2bGfVFxIYMsovTuHMAZxB7wmgjlOvMd15q09G1UIRIdcrCQlEbVr0cYp~WZBJYxheL0CfbpqbXVz2z1EEIkbczrDvoapsZfZSBKt6TIFNigZ0KBz1s-XbWeB71gBqX6pIExRefLDmLLQzKnpZ4OTxjHOj3ZDWp3R-f3OIWspI00ydO8SXOXVuyJmpxKHVxo~JOSMUgmsEaNRNywTW6JrM6eKPzpught9-u9cqYRxxn4MllxUHGo4uE0HEOcHBQDBlCALWMSjyiuBNrs9TulFEBtQRl3JSrUJPJl-lGTFoZ1FDGWIVfKBpHHyAKl5QvXTbPVf47N04GwcXWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ithaca Common Council on April 9 held a public hearing and debated a proposed ordinance to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, by right across much of the city. The measure as drafted by city staff would legalize ADU construction without an owner-occupancy requirement; council members voted to send the item to the May common council voting meeting for final consideration.

Supporters told the council ADUs could marginally increase housing supply and help homeowners afford property costs. Sarah Curless, a resident and organizer with the Tenants Union, said the city “desperately need[s] more housing” and supported the bill, adding she appreciated that the draft removes a parking requirement. David Barkin, who said he is a realtor, contractor and landlord, urged the council to “vote this out of committee and then proceed to vote in favor of this policy” and described ADUs as an adaptive way for homeowners to add housing and generate income.

Opponents and cautious speakers urged council to keep or create an owner-occupancy requirement to prevent investor-owned properties and protect neighborhood character. Rupert Spies, a 209 Valley Road resident, recommended retaining owner-occupancy after consulting local lenders and said he had not found owner-occupancy to block financing. Several South Hill and Bell Sherman residents — including a line of speakers who described student housing pressure in Ward 3 — urged a carve-out or overlay limiting sales to nonowner investors in certain neighborhoods.

Council members framed the discussion around housing supply, neighborhood character and practical tradeoffs. Alderperson Keel said ADUs are unlikely to be inexpensive housing, estimating a frequently cited minimum construction threshold and saying an ADU would likely “pencil” at several hundreds of dollars per square foot in Ithaca’s market, so an ADU alone may not be a solution to deep affordability problems. Alderperson David West, an urban planner and homeowner, told colleagues the ordinance avoids “poison pill” provisions—such as high parking or owner-occupancy requirements—that often prevent ADUs from being built elsewhere.

The committee opened the public hearing and allotted three minutes per speaker. After public comment and further council debate, a motion was put and seconded to refer the ADU ordinance to the May common council voting meeting; the chair stated the motion carried with recorded support (the audio record shows a final favorable tally cited by the chair). Council members also discussed offering another public-comment opportunity at next week’s regular meeting before the item reaches the May vote.

Discussion points raised repeatedly at the meeting included: whether ADUs will meaningfully increase permanently affordable housing versus adding market-rate rental units; the likely construction cost (speakers offered figures such as $400 per square foot and that an 800-square-foot ADU would cost roughly $320,000 to build); whether an owner-occupancy requirement would block lenders (several local realtors said it would not); and whether targeted carve-outs (for example, retaining owner-occupancy in Ward 3/South Hill) could protect neighborhood character while allowing ADUs elsewhere.

The planning department told council it would produce preapproved ADU designs funded in the 2025 budget to reduce design costs (staff estimated design savings might be up to about $10,000 per homeowner who used a preapproved plan). Councilmembers and members of the public also raised state-level action: one member noted a proposal in the governor’s budget that would limit private equity purchases of single-family homes for an initial listing period, and the council’s earlier letter to the legislature supporting the concept was referenced.

No final ordinance was adopted at the April 9 committee meeting. The council’s votes on April 9 moved the ordinance forward for full council consideration in May; the committee also agreed to provide an additional opportunity for public comment at an upcoming meeting before the final vote.

For now, the record shows continued debate between housing advocates who favor removing barriers to ADU construction and neighborhood residents who favor owner-occupancy or other targeted protections. Councilmembers indicated they expect additional public outreach and that staff will provide follow-up materials (cost estimates, model plans, and zoning/implementation clarifications) before the May vote.","The Ithaca Common Council on April 9 held a public hearing and debated a staff-drafted ordinance to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right; the draft contains no owner-occupancy requirement and the item was moved to the May council voting agenda for final consideration.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6243101,"Council to formalize labor‑liaison role and return revised resolution to full council",94,11439000,11533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616&start=11439&end=11533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616/thumbnail_11439000.jpg","/articles/6243101/New-York/Council-to-formalize-laborliaison-role-and-return-revised-resolution-to-full-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243101-1c93b7dd1a1de9253347c31ab4cb7a20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130988&Signature=UYAtTLZDk7soyvYd6JX5DH5LU9OjfLjexYnbscLi25aph12yPPiJqyedEjyjSSDSz-QaAgcMQdaNLwad8ooc7tK-oYg6kvzz-76mKKbh9ODr3fyBM8pr0nc-N8yty91iyyJooE5vNQABVr6p0OFS2hkaqC-Xrojlme1L10pjl1KD46wG4enVLLf3Clh2DGqyMWi9kyhic~xSAgaewiEScOUB2nzDtcPEUQLs97sSUCD55V1Q~4jEn7PYX~xO9JhRmjxUcqlyjh2-72svpbDQqq0y2NpkQUntha-g9eY9rfgbkBiWKc4vfkd~xlBNHKJchhQcyv50L~ehSBcgVVK1nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A councilmember read and briefly summarized a resolution on April 9 to amend the position description and responsibilities of the common council’s labor liaison. The original labor-liaison position was created by resolution on Jan. 4, 2023; the proposed amendment clarifies that the mayor will designate a council member to serve as labor liaison, that the liaison may observe collective-bargaining negotiations and serve as a fact-finder for council on labor relations issues, and that the liaison does not represent the city in management or negotiation.

The sponsor moved the revision and the measure was seconded; the city manager and assistant city attorney will meet with the mover later this month to settle a few final language points. The council directed the item to the regular (voting) agenda for the May meeting so that any technical edits can be made and council can consider the resolution at that time.

Council members who spoke in favor described the amendment as a transparency step that will help council understand contract and budgetary implications of collective bargaining. No formal adoption occurred on April 9; staff review and a subsequent vote will follow in May.","A draft resolution to clarify the duties and role of the common council labor liaison was read on April 9; the sponsoring councilmember said city staff and the city attorney will review a few final points and the item will return to the regular agenda for a future vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6243106,"Council review of encampment policy: staff proposes temporary camping area, navigation hub and phased improvements",2583,7937000,10520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616&start=7937&end=10520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3242666-50091c114c5f423e26e76e435cdb2616/thumbnail_7937000.jpg","/articles/6243106/New-York/Council-review-of-encampment-policy-staff-proposes-temporary-camping-area-navigation-hub-and-phased-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6243106-4128ca2dac23d05ac3c191cc992aa353/orig.mp4?Expires=1771130988&Signature=QunaQmf0cMp9Hh0Q8emZ7q5esMBpkwSbCVY2-~Z5xwnB-9QcLpUm2gMBP3apA4Q0QjrWmvl7vPVp9limlJt1SlwSNb-3YgtNrAY7t329DG8PCt5VVP0EJ~PJedBWJK6HIceUMc4bqZzsRC792AXPG5-LcWXJeY9WlLX7iQCkgFsE2i~P7Edj0J~XZmGYC7rjKkR2aitc2IC8WC3JcnPrZG-z74O7PN6Uo3-8RdVDhI-CnKRX7p4afI40WLnBVE4w72mNYaai7SnrlYh~1o8op-c3RaB-RfkNLLrEsfI6aQyI6tgjTap~ytncrf4bxTC8wEoplYSiX2~9bRBwyEtxgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on April 9 presented a revised encampment-response report proposing a time-limited pilot to manage outdoor camping on the city’s Southwest parcel, paired with a staffed navigation hub and phased, capital-funded site improvements.

Deputy City Manager (presenting) said the recommendations reflect community feedback and the city’s experience operating a temporary non-enforcement campsite area and outreach work in 2024 and 2025. The packet recommends limiting camping to prepared, better-drained and accessible plots in the Southwest parcel, installing pathway lighting, designating leveled campsite pads with 12-by-12-foot plot footprints, and adding a nearby centralized amenities area for potable water, toilets (subject to permitting) and storage. The staff presentation noted that some areas of the parcel are wet or heavily vegetated and should be excluded from camping.

The report also recommends establishing a staffed navigation hub — a staffed, indoor site that would provide showers, laundry, storage, case management and connections to county programs — and pursuing partnerships with Tompkins County for program and staffing support. Staff said the hub should be staffed with two to three people during operating hours and that locating county case managers closer to clients could reduce barriers to benefits and shelter access.

Safety and emergency access were central themes in council discussion. Staff presented 9-1-1 center call data showing law-enforcement “property check” activity and periodic fire and EMS responses to encampment locations; staff noted that some law-enforcement activity is officer-initiated welfare checks rather than criminal-incident responses. The city presented options to widen an existing access road (using recycled road millings), add smaller firefighting apparatus for brush-fire response, and install clearly numbered campsite and waypoint signage so first responders and outreach workers can locate people quickly.

The staff report stressed that campground permitting under state environmental health rules could require waivers or alternative mitigation measures; staff said working with DEC and the county will be necessary if the city seeks a campground permit, and that waivers would be considered only where alternative measures (for example, a nearby navigation hub providing sanitation) are in place.

Councilmembers asked about costs, operations and county cooperation. The staff presentation included a high-level budget estimate for phased Southwest parcel improvements (staff estimated roughly $380,000 to implement the identified physical improvements in an initial multi-year phase, subject to design and procurement). Staff said a formal resolution accepting the report and the recommended policy edits will be offered at the May meeting; that adoption would enable staff to begin site design and outreach, pursue county partnerships and seek permits or waivers if needed.

Deputy City Manager emphasized the work is intended as a temporary, pilot approach until county shelter capacity and longer-term solutions are available. Councilmembers and community members also discussed broader questions about financial commitments, potential funding sources and the need for robust public outreach before permanent capital expenditures or permanent policy changes.","City staff presented a revised encampment-response report on April 9 that recommends continuing a time-limited pilot for a designated camping area on the Southwest parcel, building a staffed navigation hub with county partnerships, and phased capital improvements focused on fire prevention and safer campsite design.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council told to adopt updated flood ordinance to retain FEMA flood-insurance eligibility; CRS study shows modest premium relief possible

Ithaca council hears wide public comment on proposed zoning change to allow ADUs by right

Council to formalize labor‑liaison role and return revised resolution to full council

Council review of encampment policy: staff proposes temporary camping area, navigation hub and phased improvements