Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tompkins County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
9 issues in environment with high priority
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.
Countywide Resilience Implementation Strategy grant application
The county is applying for up to $250,000 in state funding to review its existing plans and get resilience projects — like flood mitigation and resilience hubs — to shovel-ready 30% designs. This fills the funding gap between planning money and construction money that often stalls projects.
Climate Action Plan 2026 update
Staff are updating the county's climate plan, noting faster-than-expected EV and solar growth and ongoing challenges in waste and building heating. A new community outreach effort will ask residents about their lived experience with climate change and the barriers they face.
Finger Lakes Reuse funding crisis
Finger Lakes ReUse says it diverts 1,500-2,000 tons from the landfill yearly but is financially strained; its request for an extra $400,000 per year was denied. Committee members signaled support for finding a funding path through the solid waste fee.
District Geothermal for County Buildings
The geothermal system at the Highway Department has had struggles, and Chair Shurtleff wants a report on those lessons before the county commits to a possible $3-5 million district-wide geothermal expansion for the downtown Center of Government project.
Food insecurity and federal cuts
New federal work requirements under HR 1 will affect about 1,700 Tompkins County SNAP recipients starting around June 2026, and the county's share of SNAP administrative costs jumps from 50% to 75% in October. The state's high error rate could also pass billions in penalties down to counties.
Cayuga Lake water withdrawal permit for TeraWulf data center site
The Water Resources Council presented its 2025 report, including a phosphorus TMDL fact sheet for Cayuga Lake. The committee agreed to schedule a Cayuga Lake information session for all legislators.
2024 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
The county's first inventory under the new state methodology shows 1.64 million metric tons of community emissions, with transportation, agriculture, and industry leading. Early signs of electrification are visible, and the data will feed a Climate Action Plan with community outreach later this year.
Cayuga Lake and Cayuga Inlet Dredging
DEC noticed a Cayuga Inlet dredging project with only about two weeks for public comment and no public information meeting. A resident raised concerns about sediment disposal volumes exceeding dewatering capacity and truck traffic; the committee will seek an extension and information session.