CITY OF ITHACA

108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690

MAYOR’S OFFICE
LAURA LEWIS, MAYOR

Telephone: 607-274-6501
Email: m a y o r @c it y o f it h a ca .o r g
Fax: 607-274-6526

Ithaca: A great place to create, dream, live, learn, work, and play

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 6, 2023

CONTACT: Laura Lewis, Mayor City of Ithaca
mayor@cityofthaca.org

State of the City Address

January 4, 2023

Over the course of this past year, the city has faced challenges as well as realized
opportunities. The impact of the global pandemic continues to leave its mark on
our community, our staff, and the services we provide to residents. It was only last
spring that City Hall was fully reopened to the public and in-person meetings
resumed following the expiration of the Governor’s Executive Order allowing for
virtual meetings. Thanks to the expertise of staff and the technology in which the
city has invested, the business of city government carried on with few
interruptions. The public has access to live streaming of meetings, as well as
recordings, and the opportunity to sign up to address council virtually, in-person,
or in writing.

Ithaca is not alone in feeling the ongoing human and financial strains of the
pandemic. We are, however, unique, or so I believe, in that city staff have
demonstrated extraordinary dedication, resilience, and creativity. The city’s first
responders and many essential employees continue to work through holidays (as
I’ve seen recently first-hand), often in less-than-ideal weather conditions, and in
response to emergency situations. In a recent Senior Staff meeting, Department
Heads praised the accomplishments of their staff, and I could not agree more
strongly.

I want to share some of the many 2022 staff Highlights/Accomplishments:

• HR Director’s Office oversaw completion of a Compensation Study for city
workforce (non-uniformed services);
• HR worked closely with Department Heads on staffing and recruitment
initiatives resulting in a successful search for the Director and Deputy
Director of Planning and Development, hiring 2 new police officers, 2 new

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 firefighters, a Special Events Coordinator, 4 positions in the Building
Division, to name a few;
• HR Department implemented a performance feedback/evaluation tool for
certain staff positions;
• HR oversaw the IPD building inspection and evacuation drill;
• Under the advice of the Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee, the HR
Director facilitated the process for Juneteenth as a recognized holiday for
city employees;
• HR implemented new DCJS standards for background investigations and
psychological evaluations for Police Officers and updated Firefighter
medical standards to reflect current NFPA recommendations;
• Planning & Development/ED secured funding and commitment to build an
all-electric commercial kitchen in the first fossil-fuel free conference center
in the country;
• Planning & Development coordinated the approval of 15 projects totaling
$182,290,000 in investment in the city.
• Completion of Founders Way, an affordable housing project with 75
apartments and 4 for-sale townhomes, is one project addressing the need for
more housing;
• Planning & Development Director and staff coordinated the work of an
interdepartmental committee including the IURA that secured property and
approvals for a new EHFS, and funding approval to acquire a site for a new
public safety facility;
• Planning & Development issued over 500 Building Permits and closed out
over 250 of these, representing $1,265,000 in fees collected, the Building
Division conducted over 525 housing inspections thus ensuring safety in our
homes;
• Progressed the City’s GND, launched Electrify Ithaca, received Community
Climate Champion Award from US Green Building Council, led the passage
of a Local Law enabling the city, in partnership with the Town and other
municipalities, to establish a Community Choice Aggregation program;
• Coordinated a Collegetown Business Walk with the Chamber
• The retirement of the Former IFD Chief this year, as well as retirement of
other city staff, highlighted the importance of succession planning. In the
case of IFD, identifying the Acting Chief has been critical for the department
and the city. We continue to work in close partnership with the Town to
meet the fire safety needs of both communities;
• IFD completed the city’s Plan Review process for a new East Hill Fire
Station;

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• IFD replaced rescue equipment and provided additional training for
Firefighters to ensure safety. Delivery of a new Pumper Truck is expected
this spring;
• Both GIAC and the IYB Cass Rink celebrated 50 th Anniversaries this year
and were able to once again sponsor programs for children and families that
had been on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic. There is great
need for childcare, including after school care, only part of that is being met
by GIAC, SSCC, and the IYB;
• GIAC made several COVID prevention upgrades to their building that were
made possible through NYS’s Stabilization 1.0 Grant (at no cost to the city);
• GIAC secured $2.3Million in Federal, State and Local funding for the new
teen & recreation facility to be completed in 2023;
• Ithaca was one of only three NY Macker tournaments not cancelled in
summer 2022, a widely successful event with 90+ teams and hundreds of
spectators;
• IYB also secured significant outside funding to support programs for youth
and families;
• IYB hired 5 new employees, saw an increase in programs offered, including
182 Youth Employment Services (YES) teen jobs, Ithaca Youth Council
Ambassadors with 20 students, 23 new matches in the Big Brothers Big
Sisters program;
• DPW S&F and W&S work diligently toward their planned goals, which are
numerous, while responding in the moment to water main breaks, ice jams,
and repairs to the city’s aging infrastructure as time and funding allow;
• DPW Engineering staff focus on construction projects like the replacement
of the S. Cayuga St bridge, design projects that are varied, the Sidewalk
Improvement District plans to name a few notable examples. We also saw
the opening of the newly rebuilt center section of the Green St Garage this
spring;
• DPW Superintendent researched and applied for a range of grant funding
opportunities, he continues to work with NYSDEC on Cayuga Inlet
dredging plans. Staff in a number of departments continue to seek funding
opportunities to support our work, and this year we are grateful for support
from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand;
• The successful application and receipt of 2 Congressionally Appropriated
funding awards, formerly known as earmarks, thanks to Sen. Chuck
Schumer;
• The Office of the City Attorney integrated two recent hires: Assistant City
Attorneys, with a dedicated focus on land use and real estate matters;
• The City Attorney’s Office prepared and supported various legislative
packages, including that for the City Manager Local Law, “Hybrid
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 Meetings” Local Law effectuating NYS-amended Open Meetings Law, and
support for the Redistricting legislative process;
• Additional core legal services have included support for the renegotiation
and execution of the TCAT Transportation Services Agreement, supported
the negotiation of funding agreement with the county for the Community
Justice Center, negotiated and expedited execution of the bikeshare
agreement; negotiated on IYB’s behalf to obtain chlorine to keep Cass Park
Pool open during nationwide chlorine shortage;
In January 2022, we welcomed four newly elected members to the Common
Council, one member who was re-elected, and another who filled a vacancy in the
4th Ward. This evening a new 4 th Ward Alderperson was sworn in (Congrats
Alderperson Kumar!) and Council’s Vacancy Committee is moving forward with
the process of recommending a 5 th Ward Alderperson who will fill the seat vacated
by my election as Mayor. There is an admitted steep learning curve coming into
these new roles, in which we are again fortunate to have the benefit of our talented
staff.

The resounding passage of the public referendum in November 2022, ensures that
we will expend considerable effort on transitioning to a new form of city
government with a Council-Manager structure. There is much to be done as we
further develop this organizational shift that will be fully implemented in January
2024. Incoming Chief of Staff Deb Mohlenhoff will focus her attention on
preparing for this organizational change. Revised roles for the mayor and the first
City Manager are critical aspects of this model, one that will allow for far greater
efficiencies, improved effectiveness in serving the public, as well as increased
transparency.

For the past five years, it has been a privilege and continues to be my greatest
honor to serve the city I love as Council member and now as Mayor. I look
forward to the many challenges and opportunities we will face together throughout
2023. However, I am announcing tonight that I will not be seeking re-election for
the position of Mayor in 2024. My long-standing commitment to public service has
framed my work on Common Council, this has especially been the case throughout
2022 when I have served as Acting Mayor. I am confident in Ducson Nguyen’s
ability to provide exceptional support as Acting Mayor (as he has this year as
Alternate Acting Mayor) and in Rob Gearhart’s ability as Alternate Acting Mayor
this year. I am grateful to each of them for accepting these roles as we move
forward in 2023.

2023 Priorities:
• Recruiting and hiring additional police officers and firefighters to plan for
vacancies created by retirements;
• Conducting a search and hire the first City Manager;
"An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification."
 • Transitioning to a permanent Chief of IFD and IPD;
• City leadership will continue to work diligently on creating and sustaining
an equitable and inclusive work environment where every employee can
thrive;
• Continuing to develop partnerships with our county colleagues on strategies
for responding to complex issues affecting our neighbors (affordable
housing and needs of unhoused people, crime prevention, substance
disorders, and mental health responses);
• Considering the forthcoming recommendations from two Working Groups,
one on implementation of the city’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative and
a second working group considering responses to Unsanctioned
Encampments within the city;
• Implementing the goals of the Ithaca Green New Deal which are moving
forward under the direction of the Planning Director and the Sustainability
Planner;
• Reconstituting our City Commissions to encourage increased public
engagement on issues;
• Following up on take-aways from the City’s Outside Ethics Investigation to
clarify and improve our internal processes;
• Successfully reaching fair labor contracts with our collective bargaining
units
The 2022 accomplishments listed, and 2023 goals offer a snapshot of the work of
our outstanding Department Heads and staff. Common Council’s legislative work
is more effective as a result of these work accomplishments of staff. As a city, we
are far from perfect, and we have many areas that will demand attention and
resources in the future. City taxpayers require that we balance providing services
with an awareness of the tax burden facing property owners and businesses. In this
address tonight, it is impossible to capture all that city staff do week in and week
out.

A quote from Michelle Obama has been and my guiding principle, “Lead with
HOPE, never FEAR”. I am optimistic and hopeful as we welcome in the New
Year.

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