[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6230927,"mediaKeyId","3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6","parentId",3441764,"title","Committee advances Chapter 90 harassment amendment to align city code with state and federal rules","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",1600835,"endMs",1770700,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6&start=1600&end=1770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6/thumbnail_1600835.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6230927/New-York/Committee-advances-Chapter-90-harassment-amendment-to-align-city-code-with-state-and-federal-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230927-bc48a0c59aebf89b0aea02398b6f26dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413707&Signature=Fbkhp4eFpr3jgBdNWta9WLsnh4bZZ2v7xQNuG2riCIxgkuKn-3i2cQjvZDihyeg1M~dSJTNzna-6sPAxHVSpdHsarzWz~5rW9E63uOgo~5mx0BcfNjkqRzsSU~Xtqnmq8aZh66HbX7dkKlL8HH9ur8jUxBHzCxPuoYRHThA88VxOJWjTL75SqfzhX15wqJ4Bv-xtABh6EGrMqYmtmk1MVnJ8J~ppqucmrtssLDBSWidftuh0wL4mMY16CZQfqWD-X9g03YksyJdq4JUXLgNxru-kZiYxYctOfA1Ecaq0leUQ9LHzjQVg8ZhyqAtbnNFRbwWcca4bWTc6QHJZlgBz7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ithaca City","date","2025-05-22T07:15:55.1Z","article","The Committee of the Whole voted unanimously to advance an amendment to Chapter 90 of the Ithaca City Code that modifies Article 7 on harassment to bring the city code into alignment with state and federal regulations.

Assistant City Attorney Muskin joined the meeting to take questions from council; no substantive questions were raised during the committee discussion and the item was moved to the council’s voting meeting for final consideration.

Why it matters: the administration described the change as a technical update to ensure municipal code provisions mirror applicable higher-level legal requirements.

Next steps: the amendment will appear on the council’s voting agenda for final action; the administration and assistant city attorney will be available for questions at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05_21_2025_Council_of_the_Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Committee moved an amendment to Chapter 90 (Article 7) of the Ithaca City Code — updating harassment provisions to conform with state and federal regulations — to the council voting meeting; the item passed out of committee unanimously.","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},6230932,"Council moves DOT resurfacing and city resurfacing agreements for Meadow, Meadow Street and Elmira Road to regular agenda",282,1317775,1600240,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6&start=1317&end=1600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6/thumbnail_1317775.jpg","/articles/6230932/New-York/Council-moves-DOT-resurfacing-and-city-resurfacing-agreements-for-Meadow-Meadow-Street-and-Elmira-Road-to-regular-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230932-46abbd32e2d5219290df9333557c9616/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413707&Signature=IXL7khsameg4Hd8usA-LaQlJmnwxbjLvaDvfBdzikpO0t5t8Wiu8BRA-998imm48F19YBBU59c-qARxgczzrYRUS2peeuSAjjGM9yktlEubs4Zlur0YVMcgzRr-ZRth9~APAPKw-Q4Gjn~9wF-~d2OH3bWrwwQuVwAIkyKC1qmir3za2ezljwbvL-UGM6emOFk5uMI5TUUwcKbJ7jMYzcbpFKojb1ivpOFROKQsyMLOX5lzb-smc3udf3zD4tjB4trHcIRezOI4gdtN0S4R5Qf0gnqSj9Jd0~zpbE8s3slhvRfkljlm56GzTU8vy-pGVUMBLqF4sU6im-Ffv7DVPKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council discussed a work agreement with the New York State Department of Transportation to resurface Meadow and Meadow Street and Elmira Road, and moved the item to the regular voting agenda for council consideration.

Assistant superintendent Scott (DPW) and staff said NYSDOT is completing procedural legal elements and that the project remains on track for early next year. Staff noted that the state will begin work at the city boundary and proceed inward, which provides the city additional time to coordinate its own projects (including a Buffalo Street pump station replacement) before the state paving occurs.

Council members asked about traffic mitigation and whether DOT would widen lanes or expand; staff said DOT will do some small corner and curb-line improvements at specific corners but is not expanding lane counts and that DOT will be responsible for traffic control plans while the city will assist as needed. Staff also said city divisions are coordinating to minimize conflicts between the state schedule and city projects.

Action: the committee moved the DOT work agreement/resurfacing item to the regular voting meeting; the motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the resurfacing is coordinated with other city capital work and may require traffic mitigation while preserving the city’s project schedule; council members asked staff to pursue temporary pothole repairs in some high-priority stretches ahead of the state paving.

Next steps: administration will continue coordination with NYSDOT, confirm traffic-control plans and schedule, and monitor opportunities to align city capital projects with the state work.","A multi-part resurfacing and roadwork agreement with the state for Meadow/Meadow Street and Elmira Road was discussed; staff said the DOT project will begin at the city boundary and work inward, is expected early next year, and the city will coordinate traffic mitigation and timing with DOT.",{"_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},6230936,"Council OKs city authorization for DOT-funded culvert replacement to be paid up-front and reimbursed",261,1069070,1330235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6&start=1069&end=1330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6/thumbnail_1069070.jpg","/articles/6230936/New-York/Council-OKs-city-authorization-for-DOT-funded-culvert-replacement-to-be-paid-up-front-and-reimbursed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230936-a719622aae916989277e04432200f834/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413707&Signature=mMOTy9RqeHYSbU633-gkUG72QxIZLnSTzy~65xLJIDGHmS~xcB62PyRJn329VBwWtAb5TEkhD1ykdtKhG293ys-PHtyGXUJM3ag5VOE974j5xBCb-7241HMQxB94dti1-V6jfDKAjqlcsemo94pae5ktjk2GuMrVutkbevVKF6qgj6FBaDrPGbsLfzjeSuas3QNvq6C7wlobiILwLhjklqggn8fsYMPvAopS39tn74AK95MkufqmPOiRvcWa2Ot4ID~sUlBqOKdasRQ9yqM70DtP~Ic~OL2bMwfNyDLTAo5nFLmFfnNft0cp6S8ffE-0sqzny4syDPOStIyuWg4q6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole heard a presentation from staff that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is funding a culvert replacement project that crosses the city–town boundary and requires common council authorization for the city to pay the state share upfront and receive reimbursement afterward.

Staff said the project is 100% DOT-funded in terms of eligible costs and that the city will be reimbursed for the state share after the work starts. A staff speaker online said the state’s reimbursement cap for eligible costs is the figure listed in the project memo (roughly the $1,000,000 figure noted in the council materials). Projected costs were described as “at or below” the memo amount; if costs exceed that figure, staff said they would return to council for additional approvals.

Why it matters: staff said the existing culvert appears aged (concrete condition and failing headwalls) and should be replaced to maintain road function and prevent future failures. Because the crossing is near the city–town line, staff said they are coordinating with the Town of Ithaca on design and potential cost-sharing should costs run over the current estimate.

Action: the committee moved the NYSDOT culvert replacement item to consent; the motion to move to consent carried unanimously. Staff said they would follow up on process questions, including how naming of an “unnamed stream” would be handled later in the design process.

Next steps: staff will proceed with design coordination with the Town of Ithaca, execute the reimbursement arrangement with NYSDOT, and return to council if the estimated cost exceeds the memo amount.","Council moved a DOT-funded culvert replacement to consent; city will pay state share up front and be reimbursed. Staff said the culvert is aging and the state share would reimburse up to about $1 million; design is coordinating with the Town of Ithaca because the crossing is at the city–town line.",{"_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},6230941,"Council moves emergency-manager grant application to consent after debate over county role and pilot structure",824,381945,1206110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6&start=381&end=1206","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6/thumbnail_381945.jpg","/articles/6230941/New-York/Council-moves-emergency-manager-grant-application-to-consent-after-debate-over-county-role-and-pilot-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230941-5edf4d050846c7f0f70113f2f74d81fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413707&Signature=fGeHmrrJsNcyJIOz6Mfe50Zms0B0YIK9HtIwQMB4odBjfb3zkVFM9b1bvKrbi6mvQ0gH~cUh0C80cAc1cFGNjWiEtJdV-1bRQpUvM2IWm6V1YTCl7Io85EBy83zpRcsilruw-jQvRyWQthBE7Tuoo0BvHEqP298Ppm1KqVWVRZOh4jSKxMQD3~XtJAJ~PsvFhyHlkzpOLjSboIhLTkm653PYpDcnPK0a0fDtd9RmqpTvY3mR3VT0WzO2hg22Kc0COtQEs1YZDZ6WR~WCcKCVRj4LZxAKWgpkc2wnAXiPnIAJP0goH-N2OIrt4RTRVrnLPtSTz~YFTRB8vZzRSolgoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked the Committee of the Whole for permission to apply for a $200,000 grant to contract a two-year emergency manager who would focus on catastrophic incidents, and to establish a capital project to receive the grant funding.

The administration said the role would not replace first responders but would produce plans and coordinate with external partners such as the Red Cross and FEMA in catastrophic events, and that the grant-covered position would operate as a two-year pilot before council would decide whether to add the position to the regular budget.

Council questions focused on three areas: what the end product would be, why the administration is seeking funding outside the normal budget cycle, and whether the city should instead pursue partnership with Tompkins County, which maintains county-level emergency response staff and a hazard-mitigation plan. Administration representatives said county plans are focused on rural areas and that city-specific hazards and urban density merits a city-focused coordinator.

The administration clarified that establishing a capital project to receive the grant would not require issuing a bond and would not require an immediate city expenditure; the pilot would be entirely grant-funded for two years.

After discussion, the committee voted to move the grant application item (item 3.1) to the consent agenda for the council’s June meeting. The motion passed 8–1; Alderson Fabrizio voted against the consent move and one council member (Kumar) was noted present during the roll call.

Why it matters: staff said the pilot would allow the city to develop tailored catastrophic-emergency planning and to integrate coordination with state and federal resources for floods, severe storms, or similar large-scale events. Council members asked for a written scope of work and a short video explanation that staff said they would distribute.

Next steps: administration said it will share a video and a detailed draft scope of work explaining the two-year emergency-manager duties; the council will consider the consent item at the upcoming June meeting.","Council debated a proposed grant application to fund a two-year emergency manager pilot. Administration said the $200,000 grant would cover a contract for a two-year position to create catastrophic-emergency plans tailored to the city; council moved the application to consent for the June meeting, 8–1.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6230946,"Ithaca administration outlines 2026 ‘maintenance of effort’ budget; OpenGov tool to increase transparency",5919,1674320,7593540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6&start=1674&end=7593","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3441764-382be0e1c7f8318677816e74ad5787c6/thumbnail_1674320.jpg","/articles/6230946/New-York/Ithaca-administration-outlines-2026-maintenance-of-effort-budget-OpenGov-tool-to-increase-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6230946-1ac1285aecce2a5e9e77999b6d5efe44/orig.mp4?Expires=1775413707&Signature=V5JlHCTmVYUhLpNupqSCO3ZGf~1Tpi7dJXWK-an-QPhDCLmEZbVZXZIMuqtfO3A7-j2871wuPcrVqVYmoBw6v7QnnZkAFeoRHQF69s5zIKZyKYlx5zNsdcLtAvsrqrRVckIiTwNXsv9pK6rSTik1zcDJQGhEX5LBw3tNmYk9rUwdtR7Z2AXUhYuj~ACLqI3P9vAIuua6JsKPV3SYQgN8TMCBrBTwA3DZtByFeiZU9wVDN~OrwKufR~WwV1W1rmR5ykPzS1Pfz1KqkSIY0PfKZxpml5oDJegVAePLB~ObuxE6RHqrdupXXiv2tB48b930thEb4blKOwrpq3fbif3kCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Ithaca administrators presented a preliminary budget framework and data analysis for 2026 that uses the 2025 general fund as a baseline and estimates a 6.5% property tax levy increase to maintain existing staffing and service levels.

The presentation — delivered by city staff during the Committee of the Whole meeting — included an in-depth review of local population and revenue trends, a set of eight taxpayer “personas” showing how an estimated maintenance-of-effort levy would affect different owners and renters, and a demonstration of a new OpenGov platform to make budget data public and more interactive.

Why it matters: the administration said the 6.5% estimate would, under current assumptions, translate to about a $142 annual increase for a median homeowner and that personnel costs (wages and fringe) are the largest single driver of the projected levy. Staff framed the proposed approach as a conservative starting point and said it would be refined as new information (sales tax receipts, state aid, fee-study results, and the official tax-cap calculation) becomes available.

Key elements presented
- Personnel and benefits: Staff said wages and fringe make up roughly 68% of general-fund spending and are the primary upward pressure on the levy. Health insurance rose about 14% for 2025 and is expected to rise again; the city participates in a municipal insurance consortium that staff said has moderated increases compared with nonparticipating employers.

- Revenue drivers and assumptions: Sales tax was described as a bright spot (first-quarter local collections cited as up by 12.5% year-over-year in a state comptroller report), but the administration said it is treating sales-tax forecasts conservatively for 2026. State aid (including AIM payments) was described as flat in the current outlook. The administration also assumed a 15% increase in user fees as a modest, early estimate pending the outcome of a fee study underway.

- Tax base and distribution: Staff showed that in recent years the commercial share of the tax base has grown (from about 47% to 50% in the latest data cited) and argued that increasing commercial valuation helps diversify the tax burden away from single-family homeowners. Presenters used eight personas (median homeowner, senior with exemption, renter’s landlord/tenant, small business lessee, large commercial property) to illustrate how levy changes would be distributed.

- OpenGov preview: Staff demonstrated an OpenGov dashboard intended to pull data from the city’s accounting system (Munis) and present expenses, revenues, actuals and year-to-date activity in an interactive format for council and the public. They said OpenGov will not replace accounting entry in Munis but will be a read-only, user-friendly view of budget and actuals and will allow staff and council members to filter by department, object code, contracts, and other elements.

Discussion and next steps
Council members asked for additional detail on the assumptions behind the 6.5% figure, for itemized contract lists (to review outsourcing and contracted services), and for a clearer schedule for the fee-study results and tax-cap calculation. Administration said it will ask departments for “over-target” requests only where a new or expanded program is proposed, that departments will be asked for vacancy reviews and potential efficiency savings, and that more granular budget submissions will be collected through OpenGov this year.

Administration also noted a list of ongoing priorities that will feed into the 2026 budget process: diversifying the tax base through planning and development, a multi-year capital planning approach (with emphasis on using reserves and reducing new debt), and continued efforts to stabilize residential property taxes. Staff said they will provide further breakdowns by midyear actuals and will circulate the presentation materials and OpenGov training opportunities to council members.

Ending note: Administrators described the 6.5% number as an initial maintenance-of-effort baseline — not a final levy — and asked council to use the upcoming months to test assumptions, review departmental over-target requests, and participate in OpenGov training so council can monitor midyear actuals and proposed changes.","City administrators presented a preliminary 2026 budget baseline that would keep 2025 service levels, estimating a 6.5% property tax levy increase and a $142 annual rise for a median homeowner; the city also previewed OpenGov, a platform to publish budget details.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances Chapter 90 harassment amendment to align city code with state and federal rules

Council moves DOT resurfacing and city resurfacing agreements for Meadow, Meadow Street and Elmira Road to regular agenda

Council OKs city authorization for DOT-funded culvert replacement to be paid up-front and reimbursed

Council moves emergency-manager grant application to consent after debate over county role and pilot structure

Ithaca administration outlines 2026 ‘maintenance of effort’ budget; OpenGov tool to increase transparency