Council approves Consent Agenda (Resolutions A, C–J and Advisory Board Appointment), 12–0

Consent Agenda (Resolutions A, C–J and Advisory Board Appointment)

12 yes, 0 no

Res. No. _g_ – Medicaid Safety Net Payment and Budget Adjustment

0 yes, 0 no

Res. No. _k_ – Whole Health Grant Acceptance (Safer Communities Act / Block Grant)

12 yes, 0 no

Res. No. _l_ – Comprehensive County EMS Plan Submission

0 yes, 0 no

Res. No. _m_ – Victims' Rights Resolution (Weiser)

0 yes, 0 no

Res. No. _N_ – Contingent Fund Appropriation, Automotive Fuel for the Sheriff's Office

12 yes, 0 no

Minutes of Previous Meetings

12 yes, 0 no

Consent Agenda: Resolutions and appointments to be voted on as a group unless any member of the Legislature requests that a resolution or appointment be instead included separately and individually as part of the business of Standing or…

12 yes, 0 no

Acceptance of October 1, 2026 Meeting Minutes

0 yes, 0 no

Advisory Board Appointment: Rebecca Minas, Water Resources Council (ID #14479)

0 yes, 0 no

Advisory Board Appointment: Garrett Quaid, Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (ID #14278)

0 yes, 0 no

2027 Advisory Board Reappointments, Water Resources Council (ID #14278)

0 yes, 0 no

Motion to Enter Executive Session

0 yes, 0 no

October 1, 2026

0 yes, 0 no

Peak Electricity Demand Management Outreach

A new flyer will tell local businesses about NYSEG programs that pay them to cut electricity use during peak demand periods, when the grid runs dirtier and more expensive power. County buildings don't participate yet, but battery storage is being studied for the airport and public works facility.

What it means: Local businesses and nonprofits can lower electric bills and shrink peak-period pollution.

Countywide Skip the Stuff Local Law

A proposed law would stop restaurants from automatically including disposable utensils, straws, napkins and condiment cups with orders, cutting an estimated 174–347 tons of waste and up to $820,000 in business purchasing costs per year. Zero Waste Ithaca has pushed the idea since 2023 and expected a vote, but the committee says enforcement, staffing and jurisdictional questions must be settled first.

What it means: County disposal savings could run roughly $19,000–$33,000 a year, plus up to $820,000 in savings for local restaurants, though enforcement costs are unknown.

Natural Infrastructure Capital Reserve Funding Structure

Legislators want to stop year-to-year guesswork on the natural infrastructure capital reserve and consider a floor and cap on funding. Staff will bring spending trends forward to inform the 2028 budget.

What it means: Roughly $15,000 was added this year to bring the reserve toward a proposed $300,000 cap; future annual amounts are undecided.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Funding

Legislators want to know exactly what county dollars to Cornell Cooperative Extension actually fund. A new reporting portal should let them check agency spending and metrics on demand starting in 2027.

What it means: Taxpayers and legislators get transparent tracking of county money going to CCE.

County Investment in Waste Diversion

Judith Hubbard laid out three places the county could invest more in waste diversion: growing the food scrap collection pilot, enforcing recycling rules for businesses and apartment buildings, and building the reuse economy. The question now is how big a priority the legislature wants to make it.

What it means: Residents and businesses benefit from lower waste volumes and a stronger local reuse economy.

Vehicle Use Tax as EMS Funding Mechanism

The legislature will start discussing raising the local share of the vehicle use tax to fund countywide EMS, which would require a home rule law — with discussions coming in budget, government operations, and public safety committees.

What it means: County residents who rely on ambulance and EMS services.

Discontinuation of landline telephone service

Irene Weiser updated colleagues that Verizon and Frontier are moving to end landline service statewide, pushing people toward internet-based phones that fail during power outages and require 911 registration.

What it means: The telephone companies pursuing fiber-based service.

Pronouns on county employee badges

The Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee is working with IT, HR, and the safety team to add optional pronouns to county badges, with a dropdown including they/them and a blank option so no one is forced to disclose.

What it means: County employees who wish to share their pronouns.

Tompkins County Public Library finances and facility repairs

A resident described day drinking, a recent stabbing, and a rat problem at the downtown library, urging the county to fix Green Street conditions and even consider relocating the library and converting the site to housing or a shelter. The administrator reported rat treatment and hole sealing.

What it means: Library patrons, downtown visitors, and county employees if conditions improve.

Asteri Ithaca and county homelessness response

A local paramedic asked the county Health Department to inspect the city's campgrounds, citing rape, overdoses, and violence there, and criticized the city for demanding accountability from Cornell while ignoring the encampments. The chair noted an encampment south of the fish hatchery was dismantled two weeks ago.

What it means: Encampment residents and neighbors would benefit from safer, inspected conditions.

Senior citizen property tax exemption thresholds

Two downtown seniors said rising taxes are pushing them out of their home of 23 years after crossing the income limit for the county's 50% senior exemption. Legislator Judith Hubbard noted the county already raised the income limits two weeks ago, to $40,400 for the full exemption.

What it means: Low-income senior homeowners at risk of being taxed out of their homes.

Kratom Regulation

Legislators have received outside lobbying emails about kratom; a New York Times article raised safety questions, and the county attorney is reviewing. Members recalled past constituent pleas to restrict it.

What it means: Consumers if accurate safety information and regulation result.