[{"_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",6081777,"mediaKeyId","2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e","parentId",2941436,"title","Ithaca staff outline temporary camping pilot, navigation‑hub plan and site improvements for Southwest parcel","audioSeconds",2665,"startMs",7672000,"endMs",10337000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e&start=7672&end=10337","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e/thumbnail_7672000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081777/New-York/Ithaca-staff-outline-temporary-camping-pilot-navigationhub-plan-and-site-improvements-for-Southwest-parcel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081777-0a9c1ef709d803ad9bbea00ebef74014/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155078&Signature=FR6kfFgHlSEht3knYklxwlKZhfnkZdYwgJVhrknN7Naya1wMzh2DzMNBu7iEUlOgPv-zBstUYbIFlr2j~uhjEZWzmjXdmcfQo9lL1yJa7C4AfTTkdGcHg7VfyOvQx665mrpTDN8wWiqY4Ba74bfa01ZIIdhW~hurTMFjyA9JxjhiKpdZIMrAiTyboJ6z0PoWSXy3rW6sUJBLCwJZejzjo4w4BB7T6q7mlTP4IeCuTKjp6RcuMibKLreq7dT3F~725DOQhu3goTCSTP9KONCETQddfnQ3KYkjXEZCIeo0tP2rd5HrXTn68Qkuuvy0Jf5tRtz9jvS0C9rFx-sTPBLyJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ithaca City","date","2025-04-10T08:18:13.143Z","article","City staff presented a draft encampment-response report recommending a time-limited pilot to allow managed camping on a portion of the city‑owned Southwest parcel (near the Tompkins County Solid Waste Center) paired with a staffed navigation hub offering services, and recommended a series of site improvements and safety measures.

Deputy City Manager (presenting) and the city’s encampment response coordinator, Kanish Fatima, told council the approach is intended to reduce harms associated with informal encampments while providing outreach, access to services and safer, designated places for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Staff described the proposal as a phased, 2–3‑year pilot that would rely on existing capital funds to make site improvements and would require operational partnerships for a staffed navigation hub.

Site concept and proposed improvements: staff showed an updated site plan that reduces camping in wetter or hard-to-access areas and concentrates leveled, mulched camping plots (each roughly 1,250 square feet), pedestrian access with solar LED path lighting, numbered zone markers to aid first responders and outreach workers, and a centralized amenities area for potable water, storage and toilets if feasible under state environmental-health rules. Staff also proposed fixed fire rings designed for controlled burning of approved fuels, improved emergency vehicle access (widened access road using millings rather than new paving), selective dead-tree removal and small on-site firefighting apparatus (smaller, off-road-capable vehicles to respond to brush fires), plus enhanced signage and mapping so callers and responders can identify site locations quickly.

Navigation hub, partners and operations: staff recommended a staffed navigation hub — ideally in an existing nearby building — that would provide showers, laundry, storage and case-management access to benefits and shelter resources. The hub would be staffed (staff suggested two to three people per shift for oversight and case navigation) and operated in partnership with Tompkins County departments and nonprofit providers; county participation, staff said, would be critical to deliver entitlement programs and sustain operations beyond short-term city funding.

Calls-for-service analysis and safety context: staff reviewed 2023–24 911 center data for several recurring encampment locations. They showed that an intensive cleanup of a Brindley Street triangle encampment in 2024 corresponded with a notable drop in police, fire and EMS responses for that site in subsequent months. Another larger area behind a commercial parcel (request-coded in the transcript as “Jungle 2”) recorded higher overall calls (about 90 calls in 2024), though staff cautioned an important share of calls identified as “property checks” were officer-initiated community contact rather than only reactive emergency calls.

Budget and timing: staff provided early ballpark figures for capital improvements to the Southwest parcel and estimated roughly $380,000 to execute the improvements described in an initial phase. Staff said that sum would be “less than half” of the capital resources council has previously set aside for related work (staff referenced the total capital set‑aside at roughly $800,000). Operational costs for a navigation hub — staffing and rent — were not yet fully defined; staff said additional county partnership and funding planning are needed. Staff proposed that council accept the report and recommended policy edits at the next voting meeting (May 7) so implementation can begin as weather allows.

Council questions and public input: councilmembers and public commenters raised questions about long-term funding, where navigation-hub services would be located and whether county commitments to operating costs would be secured. Neighbors and community organizations emphasized fire prevention, communications and meaningful outreach to people living outdoors. Staff said they will continue detailed outreach, refine conceptual site plans using GIS data and coordinate with county and nonprofit partners.

Ending: Staff will bring a resolution accepting the report and updated administrative-policy edits to the next voting meeting; if council accepts the report, staff would begin phased implementation while pursuing county partnerships and monitoring neighborhood impacts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/9/2025 Common Council Committee of the Whole Special Topics","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a draft encampment-response report recommending a time‑limited pilot to allow managed camping on part of the city‑owned Southwest parcel and a staffed navigation hub to provide services to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.","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},6081788,"Ithaca council advances ADU ordinance after public hearing as owner-occupancy debate continues",983,1903000,2886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e&start=1903&end=2886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e/thumbnail_1903000.jpg","/articles/6081788/New-York/Ithaca-council-advances-ADU-ordinance-after-public-hearing-as-owner-occupancy-debate-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081788-ebdfd18909d22817496f00efc64fcd2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155078&Signature=BcLH0y0R9XPfuISOtfFIjriEIMIxJLTRJroXUJgdT-MUe520E7UuGItYPE3E09iiDTm-pKcOX0--1XP2yZA8zNmZYvuFITM6JU7IyynEirYbWNL1x2kuZ5cVj7Iu9GXrxm2S8RJoX~QzvqXpO-fX5mpqyXMO4oouy58U558Ox8Y2dxhGNtvEfiPVckOLqLlMCScA1yllmjy3755CCE~ue5qpCgX8ohS5y3uyWwNuJYdJgcLEGVq7mPHsXnyyfhIP8JjUPSPVlEr5HPnEJ17XC0x0rc4oxBhMDuY3CXU9QlpLTS5y97QZlL4gDtJjyBkFYXyiPJpCieAZFMhlG1QV9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ithaca City Common Council voted to move a proposed accessory dwelling unit ordinance, as drafted without an owner-occupancy requirement, to the common council voting meeting on May 7 for final consideration.

The proposed ordinance would legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right across most residential zones. Supporters told council the measure would expand housing stock and give homeowners new income options. Opponents urged retaining an owner-occupancy requirement or carving out parts of the city where that rule would remain in place to protect long-standing single-family neighborhoods.

During an extended public hearing, residents and local professionals offered sharply different views. Sarah Curless, an organizer with the tenants union, said, “we have a desperate need for more housing in the city.” Several residents urged an owner-occupancy requirement to help keep single-family homes available to families. Rupert Spies, a Valley Road resident, told council he had spoken with local lenders and quoted a longtime local agent, saying, “I have been selling houses locally for almost 30 years and have never ever encountered a situation where an owner occupancy requirement held up financing for a buyer.”

Other speakers emphasized costs and practical limits of ADUs. Brent Kotsman, an associate real estate broker representing the Ithaca Board of Realtors, said current construction prices make many ADUs expensive: by his estimate, site-built construction at roughly $400 per square foot would produce an $320,000 cost for an 800-square‑foot ADU. Alderman Keel said in public debate that even the “lowest” cost ADU in Ithaca would need roughly $2,500 per month in rent just to cover costs, and several council members and speakers warned the measure alone would not solve broader affordability problems.

Some longtime residents argued an owner-occupancy rule would be necessary to slow investor purchases in certain neighborhoods. Andre Gardner, a local landlord who served on the zoning appeals board, countered that owner-occupancy requirements can suppress housing supply and that some existing ADUs would not have been created under an owner-occupancy rule.

Council debate reflected those tensions. Alderman Letterman and others urged moving the ordinance forward as written, saying the city’s planning staff had spent years drafting the measure, and that some regulatory requirements elsewhere — “poison pills” such as high parking or very strict open‑space rules — have prevented ADUs from appearing in other jurisdictions. Alderman Fabrizio, among others, said he supports ADUs but is sensitive to neighborhood-specific impacts and urged that council consider time for further public input in limited cases.

Motion and next step: council moved the ordinance “as written” and seconded the motion (seconded by Alderman Letterman). The referral to the May 7 common council voting meeting carried by a recorded tally of 7–2 in favor. The public hearing on the ordinance had been closed earlier by unanimous vote (8–0) before council debate.

Councilmembers and staff said the planning department will prepare preapproved ADU designs and implementation guidance should the ordinance advance; staff noted the city budget includes funds for preapproved plans intended to reduce design costs for homeowners. Several councilmembers and public speakers reiterated that ADUs are only one part of a broader housing strategy.

The ordinance text being considered permits ADUs without an owner-occupancy requirement as currently drafted. Councilmembers discussed but did not adopt a ward‑specific carve-out during the meeting; proponents and opponents agreed a range of follow-up options remain available if the ordinance is adopted.

Votes at a glance: Refer proposed ADU ordinance (as drafted, without owner-occupancy requirement) to common council voting meeting on May 7 — outcome: referred, tally 7 yes, 2 no.

Ending: If adopted at the May voting meeting, staff said the city would begin work on outreach, preapproved plans and implementation guidance, and would monitor the ordinance’s early effects on neighborhoods and housing supply.","The Ithaca City Common Council voted to move a proposed accessory dwelling unit ordinance, as drafted without an owner-occupancy requirement, to the common council voting meeting on May 7 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},6081772,"Council sends labor‑liaison update to regular agenda for further review",610,10966000,11576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e&start=10966&end=11576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e/thumbnail_10966000.jpg","/articles/6081772/New-York/Council-sends-laborliaison-update-to-regular-agenda-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081772-3d52981b67a25e03558720832021b3e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155078&Signature=XPWxHcAgfvxd559hkUxBqkMaAQOygbzSbVT97PtL~zlJABgpu3oR-4YT9YIo7F8a-ap5TPulu9nx7Hl8yNz39e7ZBD4~PwQ-JbvaQXBygMqu2ekq3TrEyC8OdYd0YjDxqWz20aWcGo4UE45tzcvpvnBVx9QpiuK3vWSEUP4Uce6~yG9WZfTB8KTqKpJxl9qOhIMr3eP3mZnbk4jnKPQOePyicWZyj8Alc63IOD8jeIWeAZMPmTpoBj8svrRJiX3EZSAlQ3IIqORw82ynygQGS8d0fLNbuH3mZ17-vz8XGON6pw-XXYdcD3-D9h7lmtMcs4wXHg7vmUH6Tix7~25bYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Common Council read a proposed resolution amending the city’s 2023 labor‑liaison provisions and voted to move the revised measure to the regular agenda for detailed consideration.

The resolution clarifies that the mayor will designate a member of council to serve as the common council labor liaison, who would serve at the mayor’s pleasure and have duties including observing collective bargaining negotiations, serving as a fact-finder for the common council on labor and collective-bargaining matters, and not purporting to represent the city manager or the city in labor‑management discussions.

Councilmembers said they supported clarifying the role and strengthening the liaison’s ability to report back to council on bargaining and budget implications. The city manager asked for one or two minor technical refinements and said she will meet with labor counsel to finalize details before the measure returns for a regular-agenda vote. The council moved the resolution to the regular agenda for the May meeting; the procedural motion to place the item on the regular agenda carried 10–0.

Ending: Staff will work with the city manager and the assistant city attorney on labor-relations language and bring a final version back to council for vote on the regular agenda.","Council read a resolution clarifying the duties of the common council labor liaison (created by resolution on 2023-01-04) and voted to place the amended resolution on the regular agenda for the May meeting after a brief discussion and planned follow-up with the city manager and labor counsel.",{"_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},6081783,"Council moves to adopt updated floodplain law as FEMA remapping takes effect; CRS options examined",1229,4470000,5699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e&start=4470&end=5699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941436-c1947ced13cb04d7f471c4141ee6ee3e/thumbnail_4470000.jpg","/articles/6081783/New-York/Council-moves-to-adopt-updated-floodplain-law-as-FEMA-remapping-takes-effect-CRS-options-examined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081783-96d766f704c8a56fcdbcebc494c9f225/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155078&Signature=ZdbdnRBTqZAz79plYWjUGrL8U03WdKAKtnKBKtFptTtwv-5GTU~ptTlJlDvtc6OHymO0IOn4oaHhYyXmRF8SeHDDtwFNwH6cutSdCsoF3bWVqSHg-Jbgk08tRJylMUo57Uabi23Ftr94uN0cnsEgepFfRYSOv-Rl9fEB4ZkjjOEqTIxAGLx7-WThPTcQ7KAYaBm7WPgOThVp-WdVvR5WibgMaczCGOpxvyYHAGMEdl3T5NlGkjx9a0Jlf3LKIDzHh6ABwvKZz1mj2RIH9DgcyjHTuE3VppEcQwRiFia-OKCv0TvTMCAUB0yCzydu2QXndSI2AE2P2WLDQ9NnrZiDwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ithaca City Common Council moved a proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 (flood damage prevention) out of committee for consideration at the council’s next meeting, as staff described an accelerated timeline tied to new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps.

Planning staff said the city must adopt updated local floodplain regulations and the new FEMA flood maps into local code and transmit documentation to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) by May 19 to meet a June 18 effective date for the remapped floodplain. Failure to adopt would jeopardize the city’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), staff said — a step that would affect residents’ access to federally backed flood insurance.

What staff presented: Planning staff explained the proposed local law updates fall largely in line with FEMA/DEC minimum standards for NFIP participation. Changes included updated map references, expanded definitions (accessory structures, crawl spaces, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, historic structures), clarified floodplain permit and inspection procedures, provisions for variances, and a newly proposed $150 floodplain development permit fee intended to cover staff review costs.

Sam Quinn Jacobs, a planner in the planning department, and a planning director described the background: FEMA’s newly released maps for Tompkins County expand the set of residential properties mapped into the 100‑year floodplain. Staff cited that the older maps included roughly 100 residential properties and that the new maps include about 750 residential properties — an increase of roughly 650 parcels that could become subject to federal flood‑insurance requirements (staff said specific parcel counts should be confirmed individually by property owners with FEMA and their insurers).

Staff also briefed council on the Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary FEMA program that can reduce federally backed flood‑insurance premiums for residents when a municipality undertakes specified flood‑risk reduction and outreach activities. Sam Quinn Jacobs and a consultant summarized a city-conducted benefit‑cost analysis. Using conservative modeling and assuming current staff capacities, staff concluded the city could apply for CRS participation at a Class 8 or 9 (equating to roughly a 5%–10% reduction in federal flood-insurance premiums). They estimated that, in a scenario without a countywide flood‑mitigation project, CRS participation at those levels could deliver roughly $1.5 million in premiums savings to policyholders across 20 years. If a large mitigation project successfully removes a large share of properties (staff modeled a 75% removal scenario), then fewer residents would require federal flood insurance and the aggregate CRS benefit would shrink; under that scenario the consultant models showed a much smaller net benefit and potential net loss to the city for the administrative costs.

Staff reminded council that federal flood insurance (NFIP) typically covers up to $250,000 in building coverage and that private insurers or lenders sometimes require additional private policies that can be larger and vary widely by company and property. FEMA’s zone estimates used in staff modeling included an illustrative starting annual premium figure of about $1,800 for the city’s ZIP code; individual property premiums can vary widely.

Action and timeline: The council moved Local Law 186 forward (moved by Alderman Letterman, seconded by Alderman Kumar) and the committee action to refer the ordinance to the main meeting carried 9–0. Staff told council that, to maintain NFIP participation and avoid suspension, the city must finalize the local law and transmit required documentation to DEC by May 19 ahead of the maps’ June 18 effective date.

What this means for residents: property owners with federally backed mortgages who are newly mapped into the floodplain will be required to carry federal flood insurance; property owners without federally backed mortgages may not be required but could be advised to obtain coverage. Staff and consultants urged property owners to consult FEMA and their insurers for property‑specific obligations and rate estimates. Staff said they will publish resources and a press release and continue public outreach.

Ending: Council expects a public hearing and a formal vote on the updated local law at the upcoming meeting; staff emphasized the time-limited nature of the adoption deadline to maintain eligibility for federally backed flood insurance and the NFIP.","City planning staff told council the proposed repeal-and-replace of Local Law 186 is required to keep Ithaca in the National Flood Insurance Program after new FEMA maps become effective; staff also updated council on the Community Rating System and preliminary cost-benefit findings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ithaca staff outline temporary camping pilot, navigation‑hub plan and site improvements for Southwest parcel

Ithaca council advances ADU ordinance after public hearing as owner-occupancy debate continues

Council sends labor‑liaison update to regular agenda for further review

Council moves to adopt updated floodplain law as FEMA remapping takes effect; CRS options examined