Common Council - Regular Meeting

I would just Google city of the Ithaca. There's a new It's a new website. Yeah.

Good evening and welcome to the April 8th meeting of the Ithaca common council. go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh for those in the gallery, emergency evacuation notice. If there in case of an emergency, we are to exit through the door y'all came in through or the door over my left shoulder. We are to wait on the same side of the street on Green. Do not cross Green Street. For those with restricted mobility in the event of emergency, please move to the stairwells and first responders will arrive to aid you. Um we also almost had it by memory. uh everyone to be aware of their surroundings and offer help when it is not to your own detriment as you were your own best advocate. Agenda review, any additions or deletions to the agenda. Seeing none, uh Mr. Vincent, thank you for joining us this evening.

Green.

Great. Always happy to be here. Just want to give a quick uh report from the county. Um, so since I last spoke with you, we've had around 30 resolutions passed. I'm going to focus on the most important ones. Um, and to start, uh, at yesterday's meeting, uh, we passed a motion made by legislator Dawson directing the county administrator and county attorney to prepare a resolution for the next meeting of the legislature terminating the county's contract with flock safety. Uh, the motion passed on partisan lines. Uh, we also had a few bills in support of uh, or few resolutions in support of statewide bills. um from legislators Osland and Wiser. Um one in support of the good food bill which uh would uh legislate changes to uh food procurement for municipalities to allow for valuesbased vendors rather than just going with the lowest bidder. Um we uh also passed a resolution in favor of New York for all and dignity not detention. Uh two separate acts uh which one prevents municipalities from entering into agreements with ICE to hold detainees held for civil infractions. The other clarifies the duties of state and local law enforcement with regards to immigration enforcement. At our meeting in March, uh we passed two other resolutions in support of bills. Um the first is relating to uh the rate hike from NYG. It was just in support of six separate statewide bills uh that would uh help decrease rates in different ways. Uh the second came from our case board um which uh was a resolution supporting of maintaining the CLCPA and in support of other climate bills. Um on the asteri front um we uh recently granted 50k in legal assistance to help reser residents with legal education and support as they uh go through these trying times. Um we also are um getting some work done on our minimum wage study. Uh a while back uh we authorized a study being conducted by the ILR school to explore the potential impacts

of adopting a local law establishing a countywide minimum wage higher than the state minimum. Uh public meetings on this study are now starting. Uh the first was on March 24th uh with more meetings throughout the month of April to get other members get thoughts of members of different communities. Uh the ones that I think would be most relevant uh for Ithaca is a meeting for Ithaca business owners that's going to be held on the 14th in the conference center. Uh and a meeting for Ithaca um workers which is going to be held on May 21st in the library. Um if you want more info on this you can look up just Tom count Tomkins County minimum wage study. Uh it should be the first thing that comes up. Um one final thing that we're working on right now um which is uh is a county paid family leave policy. Uh this is being worked on by uh legislator um uh Pacman. Um we've uh directed uh county staff to develop a caregiver leave policy uh which we hopefully will be hearing from them in some future meeting few months down the line. Um but yeah, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Thank you very much. Any questions for the legislature? Mr. Defendini. Hey Adam, thanks for being here. Um, I want if I wanted to learn more about what the type of legal education and assistance uh the county is providing to a a st residence looks like, who would be the best person to talk to about seeing the specifics on those? Probably Chair Black. Thank you. Yeah.

All right. Thank you very much for joining us. Thank you. Uh, may I have a motion to approve the March minutes? Mr. Mr. Dendini seconded by Miss Fetsz. All those in favor carries unanimously. Open up public comment. Uh Terresa and on deck is Cassie Marklin. Um welcome. As you know, you have three minutes. Why don't you begin?

Um I'm Teresa Alt of 206 Eddie Street in College Town. The police tactical team grant should not be accepted. It is a bad idea. The more the police look like the military, the more threatening they will appear and the less residents will feel that they can cooperate with them or call on them for help. Thank you. My next speaker is Cassie Marklin followed by Anne Johnson. Welcome Cassie. You have three minutes. Why don't you begin?

Thank you. Um, this is the first time I'm doing this, so please pardon me. I'm also having palpitations for some reason. I'm going to make this fast as possible. Um, first I want to thank Miss This is regarding the tactical team grant. I am opposed. First, I want to thank Miss Metos, Miss Fetsz, and Mr. Quell for respecting Ithaca's values by voting not to consider this. We appreciate those on the council who are voting with their constituents despite any personal political risk. Thank you. Thanks also to the Ithaca Times who did not let the speedy decision go unnoticed. Second, I'm confused. What exactly were the rest of you thinking? Are you trying to be Republicans now? Do you really think that those who voted for you want their police department to have military grade equipment? For what purpose exactly? Do we ever have violent riots in Ithaca? And how often do we need to swat in Mitha? Why would they need drones for deescalating high-risisk encounters? Are high-speed chases common place on our broken roads here? No, but protests are. And by the way, we don't want any PD drones at them either. The point is ethicans don't want a militiz militarized police force and you all know that perfectly well. So may I suggest that your optics on this are so strange that some of us are in this room will be watching a few of you work carefully. More so if you choose to vote yes on this. Also what circumstances come up here where PD needs 16 ballistic helmets valued at over $1,700 a piece. When did binoculars become $7,500 a piece? Are they lamborgh binoculars? Because even liberals per perhaps especially liberals are concerned for the welfare of their party and are concerned about grift and corrupt contracts. So why are you so eager to bolster accepting a gift that clearly fell off the back of a truck? Stop helping DHS waste our money, please. Finally, in the article, Mayor Canamo is described as basically explaining this away as business as usual. And an assistant attorney is described as avoiding disclosing details about this during a public meeting. Pardon the paraphrasing, but I can quote you what the article said if you need me to. Basically, thank you, Ethica Times, for pointing out these red flags. All of our collective eyebrows have been in the air since one of your colleagues made made a devastating error, but walked off with a full pension while you decided to turn downtown into District 1, the capital, on Saturdays with your new laughable

parking fees. We should not be bending over for any funding coming from this administration, especially for a pitily 75K. So, please folks, don't make us more suspicious than we already are. Thank you. My next speaker is Anne Johnson, followed by Aaron Fernando. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You have three minutes. Why don't you begin?

Thank you. Um, since you're considering a grant uh from DHS, I'd like to bring a case to your attention. Um, back on February 19th of this year, IPD responded to a call that someone was wrapping yarn around a utility pole and a flat camera. When an IPD officer arrived on the scene and confronted the person, this person stopped what they were doing and walked away. No harm done. City property barely touched, if touched at all. But IPD didn't leave it there. Instead, they pursued this person, a vulnerable member of our community who is disabled and walks with a walking stick. And the IPD officer pursued them across two parking lots and into the street on the next block. Backup was called and this person was tackled onto the street, suffered injuries, and was taken h taken to the hospital before being brought to the police station. The Cornell Daily Son reported the details of this entire incident. One important detail being that IPD somehow doesn't have the body cam footage from the officer who purs who pursued the person called Tam across the two parking lots and into the next street. The officer who escalated a simple situation into an abusive tackle by multiple officers. In an interview with the Cornell Daily Son, police chief Kelly said that quote ultimately TAM makes the decision on force being used. What a ridiculous statement. It's as if IPD bears no responsibility for their own behavior. And I feel compelled to point out that if you have experience with abusive relationships, as I have, you can recognize that statement for what it is. It is the classic gaslighting statement from the abuser to the abused. It's your fault. I had to beat you because you did XYZ. I had to abuse you. And so there it is. The abuser's gaslighting statement built right into standard police procedure. I honestly thought our police were above this behavior. tackling and injuring a

vulnerable person and then somehow not having the body cam footage and then still pressing charges though no city property was actually tampered with to save face. It's a little embarrassing. And the officer in question was sued in 2019 for excessive use of force, but IPD isn't holding themselves accountable to the standards of behavior that the rest of us must follow. If Ithaca police want the respect and trust of the public, which I want to give them, then they need to behave in a respectful and transparent way. This police department would be better served by a grant uh for for some deescalation training. Thank you. My next speaker is Aaron Fernando followed by Emily Thuja.

Hi Aaron, welcome. As you know, you have three minutes once you begin.

Great. Hello everyone. Um, yes. So, got a couple things today. Uh, first, uh, please do everything in your power to speed up the taking down of the flock equipment. Um, of course, uh, we are aware that there is a, um, a contract amendment that the city signed that transferred ownership of the cameras and the and the microphones to the city. So, it's a little bit darkly comical that the city is afraid of touching the cameras that it owns. I know the city owns the liability to the cameras and the and the other equipment, but um please take down the flock cameras. And I and also thank you for unanimously voting to do that. Uh the other main reason I'm here today is to also express opposition to the tactical grant. Um the and the acceptance of it. I know it might seem like free money, but really what this does is it does further militarize the police. um that is a wedge that gets driven between the public and the police. If you think about what all of that equipment looks like in use, um it it ch it changes or increases the the way in which the public is just a violent mob to the police, right? Like it's not it's not for community policing. It's not for trust building. It's it's the idea of uh unmanned drones, uh tactical shields, tactical helmets, and night vision goggles when flashlights are usually fine if you're not trying to like assassinate or kidnap someone. Um it changes the the nature of that dynamic so that is it is more toward oppressor and oppressed. And so, um, don't take the free stuff that's coming down from New York DHS, which may be coming down from federal DHS, which is, of course, like part of the American Empire. Um,

yeah, I that's that's mostly all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Emily Thuja is next, followed by Maryanne Grady Flores.

Hi, Emily. Welcome. You have three minutes. Why don't you begin? Hey there. Um, I'm Emily Thugujet. Um, I live in Ward 3 just down the street from Pat. Um, and uh, uh, my thing is that I'm worried about getting us caught up on our audits. Um, I didn't write anything down today, so I'm winging it and I'm going to keep it really short. Um, and I'll mostly just note that um there's a lot of uh capital projects that the city would like to do and uh those are a lot easier to go into uh knowing what the city can afford to do and knowing uh what what is a reasonable amount to finance or um provide information um for the for the funding related to that. So the sooner the better. Uh we get the finance department fully staffed. we uh get uh like I I believe that that we're wrapping up with updating the systems and then after that we'll be able to proceed with with actually completing our next hopefully like multiple audits at the same time. Um so hopefully keep up the good work, but I'm going to be sticking around here until we're more caught up than we are. So see you next time.

Thank you Marian. And then followed by Danny Kramer. Welcome. You have three minutes. Why don't you begin?

Yeah. Hold on one sec. Hi all. I know some of you. Um anyway, I'm asked I've asked Aaron to hold this and flip it around for you guys to look at it while I do my presentation. So, I'm Maryann Grady Flores. I live on Plain Street in the city of Ithaca, part of the Itha Catholic Worker. And few of you may remember, despite many other grandmother's involvement, including going to jail, I was dubbed the grandma drone protester back in and I sent I was served I mean sentenced to a year in prison for protesting killer drones piloted from Syracuse uh Hancock airport uh drone base where we're going back by the way on Earth Day for an action protest. And I would invite all of you. It's going to be early 3:30. So I was shocked to hear that IPD uh may unless we all reject this uh grant the 75,000 to pay for drones uh from homeland uh Department of Homeland Security which I consider a misnomer with this name. So I lived in the West Bank with Palestinians under surveillance and occupation. And we know that Palestine has been the boilerplate for police departments across the US from ordering uniforms, cameras, drones, weapons, and training. Just look up deadly exchanges. Our friend Eran Ephrati learned that his own father, when he came here, uh he learned that his own dad was the trainer. and our Kathy Zoner uh from Cornell police was trained there. Anyway, so I strongly urge that you all drop this idea, reject the grant and other military style uh for the drones and other military style

hardware. Why do we have to work so hard to push back to stop flock surveillance cameras and now have to face another type of surveillance cap camera at the nose of a drone? No. Um, we're on a slippery slope. We've allowed genocide on a world the world stage and there's so many other things that are being, you know, just uh carved away in terms of our rights and freedom and democracy. Um, and this is a major step towards fascism. So, um, yeah, we're we're falling right into the fascist trash bin. So, leave our first and fourth amendment rights intact. Thanks.

Thank you. My next speaker is Danny Kmer, followed by Katie Church.

Welcome. You have three minutes once you begin. I am here to ask you guys not to further militarize the Ithaca police force. That is, to put it frankly, a very scary idea. I do not want any of my friends, comrades, and neighbors to be more hurt by the IPD than they already are. Someone here has already spoken about my friend Tam, who for a good chunk of time immediately after could not get out of bed or walk on their own. because they were already disabled. And then Ithaca Police Department tackled them, broke a bone, pepper- sprrayed them. And about a year or a year and a half, I'm not sure the exact date, but I'm sure you can go back, read the news, and look, IPD also uh tear gas a floor in a residential building in a stair, who I'm sure you all are very familiar with right now, tear gas a residential building on a floor where my 9-year-old best friend lived. They teared the They tear gas the floor to get one person in one apartment. And everyone else in the surrounding apartment buildings also felt that tear gas, including my 9-year-old best friend. The IPD has also uh many years ago, uh I know a lot of people in this room might be familiar with the name Shawn Greenwood. That's not a person I've ever met, but I know it's a one of the heartbreaking examples of police violence in Ithaca. I know Ithaca is a very liberal town, but it is not immune to the police violence and fascism that plagues everywhere in the American empire right now. We cannot and the fact that Ithaca is a very liberal town and these things are

still coming up and happening without a very violent and swift opposition from you all makes people even further lose faith lose faith in the concept of politicians because how are people voting for people that do not keep us safe. And further militarizing the Ithaca police force only puts people in that much more danger. Uh I'll also add that on Trans Day of Visibility when only seven protesters were marching for Trans Day of Visibility, uh it was about a one:1 ratio of protesters and IPD cruisers, which I'm sure is also a great use of your money. Uh, drones are being used across the globe for violence. And when something like this comes to you on a level that you can affect, you guys can't really vote to stop the drones in Gaza or Iran. You can vote not to have drones here with IPD. Don't be fascists, please. My next speaker is Katie Church, followed by Josh Dolan. Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You have three minutes. Why don't you begin?

Thank you. I'm Katie Church. I live downtown Ithaca in uh W 2. Um and I am also here to speak against accepting the tactical grant. Um I'm aware that further militarizing the police force always and every time increases violence upon vulnerable populations. It's terrible for community safety and further traumatizes the environment. Our small city does not in need increased swap presence especially in this time of increased terror from our own government and I urge you to strongly say no to any money that would be need to used for that. Thanks. Thank you. And my last speaker is Josh Olen.

Welcome. You have three minutes once you begin. Thank you. I believe Claire Grady is also on the queue. Could be wrong. That's the last card that I have. Um, if you arrived after we began public comment, that's the rules of procedure dictate that I can only accept cards until public comment begins. Um, could I restart my time? Is that okay? Of course.

Great. Thank you. Um so uh as mentioned before ACLU's uh COPS uh model legislation it stands for community control over police surveillance uh provides a democratic framework and a critical lens over surveillance technology. Um the give grant has an open-ended budget line for technology. It does not specify it must be used for surveillance. Uh so we urge you to find a non-serveillance use for that grant money uh because clearly the community is not in favor of surveillance technology. And I want to point out that a pivot to Axon is not going to be acceptable to the community as that company has an explicit partnership with ICE. Um second I do have a question. Are the flat cameras deactivated? And you can answer during your whatever you call it. Um, third, uh, do not accept the tactical grant. I see a line item for riot shields, and I know that if they are deployed, I'll be on the receiving end. Uh, one of our local right-wing activists recognized my perennial presence within the local movement by creating a meme of me that said, "My condolences that I couldn't make it to your protest, uh, but I have yet to see it." one check from George Soros. Um, I appreciate the IPD has had a relatively hands-off approach to protests uh under Chief Kelly merely es escorting marchers rather than escalating like they did in 2020 when several protesters were sprayed with some less lethal noxious substance in front of IPD's uh station. Um, but when you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Finally, it seems that we have uh one officer in particular, officer Zachary Dorne, uh who is overzealous when employing force and is clearly a liability uh to the city. Um if you don't recall, he was involved in the brutality case uh that happened on the Ithaca Commons um with Rose and Kaji in uh 2019. So uh my second question is why is he still employed here? Thank you.

Thank you very much. Uh that is the end of our speakers. Um we'll move to privilege of the floor. I'll just briefly note for uh there will be an update on city finance department later this evening. Um and with respect to the flock status, I will just defer. I won't put Jim on the spot because he wasn't the person that we tasked to work on that, but um my understanding is that the attorney's office is executing what count uh uh what are we called? Council uh directed them to do last month. Uh colleagues, um I I'll reserve my comments on the other stuff when we get to those voting items. Colleagues,

uh thanks for everyone who came to speak. Um a one of the questions that I had was around um the the community police review board which I'm um a member of uh as as a liaison and question that I have that I could probably follow up with folks to get an answer for afterwards is um regarding complaints. Do we know if uh complaints need to be filed by um uh by the people sort of who have been sort of on the receiving end of what they might call police misconduct or would it be possible for people who have potentially witnessed it to do that? Do we know? I'm going to ask for unanimous consent to answer that question because I can only recognize a speaker once at privilege of the floor and you are asking a question presumably to me.

So is there any objection to me answering that question from the older person? I just want to play by the rules. Um I will actually use that by way of but use that opportunity uh as an opportunity to say something. something I was going to say later in the meeting, but um the community police board uh has had a number of longtime members resign. Uh and I've appointed several new folks, but we are looking for new folks. So, if there is anyone who is interested in doing so, uh please uh follow up with the deputy clerk and um get an application in. Um, we are currently at a we currently do not have enough swornin members of that board to meet a quorum and so they have not met since February. Um, but the mechanism for filing complaints uh is is detailed on the city website. Um, and I have an outstanding inquiry to the attorney's office for how to handle them in an interim period where we don't actually have a body that can meet over these last six weeks. Thank you. Uh, yeah, that was my uh main point. I encourage everyone to if they feel like they've seen witness been witnessed to uh police misconduct that we have that review board and I would encourage folks to utilize that. The other thing I'll say, I'll save the majority of my comments for um for discussion relevant items. Um, we have an item on consent agenda regarding Spencer Road and revitalization uh rehabilitation uh for the road and I think that's a great project and I know there's been a lot of concerns around safety, pedestrian access and so I just wanted to that's going to move without a lot of fanfare from us but I think it's good to acknowledge that we're dealing with that issue which has been a big concern for folks on West Hill. And so I just wanted to thank folks at DPW for for their work on it.

Thank you. All right, seeing no further comments, we'll end privilege of the floor. Um, may I have someone please move consent agenda? Miss Mtos, seconded by Mr. Keel. All those in favor of consent agenda. I was wondering how you were going to raise a hand. Uh, that carries unanimously. Um, may I have someone summarize and move item 6.1, uh, the grant for IPD, Mr. Win? Um, this is a resolution to accept $75,000 for the LET program from New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Is there a second? Seconded by Miss Fbritzio. I see that the chief and Captain Schwarz are here. I think DC Bellamy is also here. Yep, there he is. Um, I will turn it over to council for any comments or questions. they are here to answer them such as they exist. I will for public edification uh while people just get settled say my piece which is uh I voted this out of committee and we'll vote for it this evening because we have already been awarded the funding and I am frankly concerned about the integrity of the city's flood mitigation grants which also flow through homeland security and am concerned about turning down money. That being said, I have also given a directive that we are not to apply for these grants going forward. Uh, Miss Fitzio Mishvetsz.

Yeah, thanks for coming you guys. Um, I just wanted to clarify um and also help inform uh the public. You know, it's it's been my understanding that um this equipment that's part of the grant is for high-risk emergencies where where we need specialized sort of capabilities. So, I just wanted to see if you can confirm this and my understanding is that it includes responding to things like active shooter incidents, hostage situations, venue protection at large public events, and other kinds of critical incidents where we need like highly trained people. and that the equipment that's funded through this grant helps officers communicate with individuals who are in crisis, resolves incidents safely, protects victims, bystanders, and first responders. This is not is it true that this is is all of that true? And is it also true that this is not a situation where we're looking at IPDing be being fitted with tactical gear and going around and terrorizing our neighborhoods? Yes, this is this is accurate and this is a grant that we've utilized and we've benefited from because we have such an advanced and highly skilled team and uh and myself being a survivor of gun violence find it particularly important to properly equip our officers to respond to these very challenging situations. And if our officers didn't have some of this equipment, are there situations that you might be able to describe that would pose grave risk to them and to bystanders or anybody else who's involved in an incident?

Yes, absolutely. You know, when when other people flee from violence, we're the ones that are tasked with responding to it. And this equipment would be used for very specific incidents. This isn't something that people are putting on every day and walking around on the streets.

Yes. Yes. This this tactical equipment, these heavier vests, helmets are used in encounters where we know people are to be armed or believed to be armed with uh high power rifles, uh highcapacity weapons. There are some benefits that we receive with this equipment. Like for instance, there's a a pole camera that we use to uh check premises before we make entry that we've also used on crime scenes where you know a body is in a particular position that we can't get into a door. We can use this camera to now see and document a scene before we disturb it for further investigation.

Is that what the drones would be used for as well? So, the drones are uh interior drones, and yes, rather than sending an officer into a situation where we're going to instigate a violent encounter, uh that drone gives us the ability to get inside of a dwelling and see what's there, see if somebody's armed or maybe if they've taken their life already or if they're overdosed and need medical attention. Uh and then also to be able to communicate with people to encourage them to to come out. Mishvatz,

um, are there numbers on how much this type of gear has been used in the last five years or any data on this that you have? there this equipment is used regularly and I believe the question was asked last last meeting uh by uh alder person Jose or or Jorge sorry uh they uh you know within the last year approximately nine times where it's been utilized the problem with this equipment is the shelf life as well like many of these vests and helmets are only uh good for five years they may work longer but manu manufacturers will only support the use of them for five years. So over the last uh since 2013, we've gotten over over a million dollars in grant funding. Some of this equipment that was originally purchased has already been purchased again and is needed to be replaced a third time. Uh so this is something where we're not increasing the militaristic uh militarization of the police department. It's something of equipment that we've been utilizing for a long period of time that it it you know it expires essentially.

Sorry, I have followup. Um several people during public comment mentioned the use of ballistic shields during crowd control protests. Um is that something that ballistic shields are used for? Ballistic shields are different than riot shields. Riot shields are hard plastic. They protect officers from bottles, rocks, things like that. Ballistic shields stop uh rifle rounds. They're heavy. They're bulky. They're not used in protest lines because they're very heavy and and bulky. Thank you, M. Mtos.

Hi, Chief. Um I was wondering in a situation where um it would require the department to use this type of equipment, what is the likelihood that you would also be calling in outside agencies like state troopers, the sheriff's department, Syracuse being that we have a tactical team agreement with them um in order to assist you guys.

I mean everything's situational. That's that's kind of that's an unknown right now. Most situations we respond to with our multi-jurisdictional team that's uh comp comprised of ethical police officers and uh sheriff's deputies. Now in a situation where Syracuse and I I spoke uh last time uh with the Syracuse MOU uh where we had a homicide suspect in a house and we don't have the armored vehicle to be able to park outside and negotiate. So something like that where we called Syracuse to come down and assist. But most situations and I think you brought it up in that meeting as well. Syracuse is a long ways away. So that is if we're calling Syracuse on a regular basis like things have gone horribly wrong. Further come I I I appreciate that. Um, any further comments? Uh, Mr. Divinity.

Hey Chief. Hey folks. Thanks for being here. Um, so I appreciate that the equipment is being used uh regularly. Um, and I know that we made mention of it at this meeting and at the previous meeting um, at the beginning of the or the middle of last month. Um would it be possible to obtain sort of metrics for reviewing um how often those uh this equipment is being used in the future? You know, assuming that this goes forward today, and I believe it will, um how it'll be uh how often it's being utilized. Can we get the metrics or the data on that at at a later point when you know a grant report is submitted for instance? I mean that's certainly something we we can have more conversations around and and like I said when the equipment's being used last year approximately nine times um there's not a lot of data you know we nine times over the last 10 years it's there's the equipment and then there's the training component that we talked about last meeting as well where the officers that have that additional training are able to professionally resolve and deescalate other situations in the past that may have escalated to a SWAT call out. Whereas now we see callouts uh over the last years actually declining. And this is a credit to to the work that the officers are are doing day in day out on on the street and the communication skills that that officer officers utilize. Uh and one of the things that I that I noted during uh public comment as well is that there is a process for complaints or compliments and that that is still active even as we're continuing uh to recruit for the uh the civilian

police board. Uh so people are always encouraged uh whenever force is used and our annual report will be coming out soon. Uh but if you look at a last year's annual report, we may use force 80 times 90 times a year. Like we use force uh on a regular basis, but out of 24,000 calls for service, it's a relatively small statistical number. And that force may be uh soft hand techniques. Somebody doesn't put their hands behind their back and we put their hands behind our back. or it's verbal direction or it could be threaten of a taser or a taser or threat of pepper spray or use of pepper spray and in situations and especially within TAM situation um he was asked numerous times to stop. Yes, thank you. I apologize. They were asked numerous times and there is video of that incident that was reviewed from different locations that was also shared with the Cornell son. And so we take these incidents very serious, especially when there's an injury that we're we're scrutinizing it, but it's it's unfair to to justify things or to express things a certain way without having that understanding or without having more information. And we appreciate the Cornell son reaching out to us and having a conversation with uh with some of their their reporters and them looking at the videos and asking questions because that puts other information out there and it allows for a more uh robust conversation and and really evaluating uh different use of force in these these critical, you know, situations. But it is not it's not something we we take lightly and we are always open to that that scrutiny and review and and further questions.

I appreciate that. As a quick followup, I think to be more specific in regarding what I'm talking about in data, I think instances when the helmets, the shields are being utilized, when sessions that are going to be funded or when staff personnel time is going to be funded, you know, I'm currently working in the nonprofit scene right now with a contract from the Department of Labor. every ounce, every penny, every hour, every minute gets uh logged and recorded. Uh and I imagine federal grants are are not much different. And so I think as you guys go about doing this business uh or submitting reports to uh the granters upon completion of it, I think it'd be beneficial to us uh as we're making our estimations uh going forward uh to have that data on hand is is what I meant specifically regarding the data. And then very lastly, I'll say that I think um we explore um in conversations with some members of the review board that currently currently are on the board and sworn in uh there's been I think talk and mention about the prospect of the review board being a place where pursuing some of these grants can be uh discussed. Um, and that might take a directive or uh from council, but I think that that I'm I'm curious to hear from colleagues. Not now necessarily and from yourself, chief, uh, how you would feel about such a a situ or arrangement, if you will.

I'll just interject because you're welcome to have posed that question, but that is not gerine uh to the resolution before us. Um, so let's bracket that conversation for a future conversation. Then I think that that's I'm good at that point though. Mr. Trumble,

thank you Mr. Mayor and thank you guys all for coming. Um I think I still just have the same problem as a couple of weeks ago as far as the drone goes. Um the drones go um and that like reimagining we talked about deescalation um and improving public perception um as far as policing goes. And I can't come up with too many incidences where a drone flying into a high intensity situation wouldn't risk a massive chance of like escalation like without talking about the specifics of what we did when we went through that roleplay training. Um, one of the scenarios specifically, let's not do that.

I won't I won't walk through that, but you know, like if there was something intensive going into an apartment, I'm just worried that, you know, the use of a drone could have the opposite effect. Um, so I just wonder if there is a protocol for when you use it, if someone has to authorize the use of it, and if not, whether or not you'd be open to exploring something like that, um, just as a kind of at least a safeguard, you know.

Well, a particular situation I can tell you I'm familiar with where a drone uh saved officers was a subject that had taken his own life. Uh the safety concern was that before he took his own life, he rigged his front door of his apartment with another rifle. So if officers had just made entry into that dwelling without first clearing it with that device, they would have walked right into uh essentially an ambush of somebody who was already deceased. So there we're always looking at the different whatifs and different scenarios and and as best we can do to minimize risk and minimize escalation. We're we're always looking at like minimizing the the exposure to officers and and community members.

You still hold the floor. Um as far as did the other part of my question um like is there a system in place for when the drone could be used? Like what kind of situations merit that? Like would you have to approve it? Could anyone on the team approve it? So the the team has a a hierarch hierarchical easy for me to say uh structure and actually I I'll defer to the uh uh captain on this question.

Yeah, it's a that's a great question. Uh so just so you all know the team does not get activated without the authorization of the chief first of all. So we don't it's not just like the stuff is going to be used on patrol on a daily basis like officers like oh I'll fly a drone in there and check this house out. Uh so in a there's a a certain set set of circumstances that have to be met for the team to be authorized by the chief and the sheriff. Uh once that's met um we're in the process of developing protocols and getting the proper FAA licenses but essentially it's about gathering more information to make better decisions. So, um I can give you like a hypothetical. If we had a report that someone um was wanted for something serious and they were armed in a bathroom, if we could fly the drone into the house and see like maybe they're not armed, maybe they're not even there, then we don't have to go in, right? Or maybe we can just let it play out. Maybe they're in there and they've cut themselves and we need to get them medical attention. So, it's it's more about getting um better information to make better decisions. Uh but to your question about the authorization that would come I'm the commander of the SRT team that would come through me. Um but after we've been authorized to deploy it from the chief. That answer your question.

Mr. Kirby, you guys already have a drone for like documenting crime scenes. I've seen it in work, but I couldn't remember if it was your force or the sheriffs or the troopers. We do not have drones for outside use uh for documenting crime scenes. We have just through a different grant gotten um some things to uh document crime scenes, serious accidents. The the sheriff's office does have outside drones. So that's probably Yeah. If you saw a drone, it was the sheriff's office and or the state police. Yeah. Mr. Ritzio Mishvetsz,

I just want to say thank you so much for being responsible and respectful in our community um and for ensuring that the police department is working in a way that that really upholds the values of this community. And I also just want to say thank you so much for putting your lives on the line every day to help keep us safe. And um just to reference that training that uh we were part of recently uh I think it really I mean it just really brought it home for me just you know the kinds of situations that you are tasked to go into on a daily basis and the kind of risks that you that you take for all of us and I just want to thank you uh for doing that. Thank you. I will be absolutely supporting this. I do not see this as any kind of militarization. I see this as a way to help protect um our community and to help protect the officers who are doing this job. Thank you.

Mets, we spoke about this a few weeks ago, the clause in the grant that mentioned data sharing. Um this is a grant that you've received before, right? This specific one. Yes, it's uh 2013. Okay. Um, and what kind of data did they request as part of this grant?

So, data they're they're looking at and actually provide best answers, but it's the the actual equipment that's being purchased and then the time if we're back filling officers that are training, we have to document the hours that the officers are actually at training. So, that's the type of information that's used as accountability that we're doing the things that we said we're going to do with that. Part of the application process is um you have to there's a cert there's a lengthy set of criteria and when you apply for different sectors of the grant you have to demonstrate a need or underperforming area. Um so some of these things because we are an accredited team through the state are areas for example um we have SCBA units in case we have to go into an account an area where there isn't adequate oxygen or something poisonous in the air. So that's not something that we regularly use, but to be accredited, New York State requires that. So that's an example of something we've had to apply for in the past where we demonstrate we don't have this ability. We don't have the finances to get it and the grant gets it to us. So anything we've applied for in the grant has to be demonstrated and met in the application process. All right. Uh seeing no further discussion, we'll turn that to a vote. All those in favor of uh the resolution as moved. Those opposed. That carries 7 to four. Um next item. Uh uh let's see. I think I think Wait. Yeah, let's just vote again because I those in favor, those opposed. Uh Trumbull, Schvettz, uh Defendini, and Moss against. Um, next item on the agenda,

give me a moment. Um, I am moving a timeline extension for the city attorney's office. I'll wait two seconds while the room clears. Okay, try that again. Um, I am moving a timeline extension for the city attorney's office uh for the legal opinion that is to be delivered to the special committee on wrongful discharge and labor protection basically as a consequence of the enormous legal snarl that the situation next door produced over the last month. Uh, I uh without any further I will look for a second seconded by Mr. Defendini. Uh, Mr. City Fendini and I who chairs that committee has already uh we've already spoken about this um doesn't impact anything significant but gives the city attorney's office appropriate time to provide a well-reasoned legal analysis. Any further comments or questions on this, Mr. Su? Um, yeah, this is the city attorney is doing a really important task as far as making sure that everything, you know, some of the biggest questions we're facing when looking at this legislation is the legal analysis and the financial analysis. And basically, I think the city attorney is the one responsible for this. Is she feeling, if she's the one doing it, is she the one is she feeling like she has sufficient resources to give us answers to that? I given that uh acting city attorney Muskin is not present this evening. I don't want to speak for her. Um but I would encourage uh you as a member of the committee to write to her office. Uh and I would suggest just copying uh myself uh ACM Rechio and uh the rest of

your committee on that inquiry. And I would also actually go ahead and say um if the answer is no, I would encourage my colleagues to come forward with a proposal to bolster those resources if needed. Any further comments or questions on this uh procedural motion? Mr. Defendini. um somewhat Germaine uh you're about to get in your inbox uh a couple of slides in terms of an update related to the committee's work so far in terms of data collection as well as a perspective timeline for the next few months as to what we're working on. Thank you very much, Miss Fitzio.

Actually, I do have a question. Um so it looks like this is just about the legal opinion. What about the financial um analysis? So it is just about the legal opinion, the financial analysis and the governing resolution which I do not have in front of me but I did write so I think I know it well. Um it requires that there be a 90-day period uh no more than 90 days for the uh finance office to render um their analysis of the proposed intervention. and and uh no such intervention can be proposed until this legal opinion is provided and then a policy statement subsequent to that is adopted. So it slides all of that like the 90-day clock on the finance office. They can't be asked to produce a financial analysis until that committee actually has a semblance of an idea of what they're proposing.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor of this resolution as moved. That carries unanimously. Thank you. Um, are you next, Pat? Is that why you're pumping up? No, I wanted that moved quickly and I wanted to make a comment about your the charge. I think you're incorrect about it uh for the just cause. Is it Have we moved on already? We've we voted on it. Yeah. No, it's it's fine. Uh um you are recognized to move your uh thing that I cannot wait to read the emails as if as if this took away from you doing anything else. Like this is just fun.

Uh yeah. So I think probably one of the most important votes we're going to make tonight. Um, this is on a uh a I I'm moving a a resolution to um protect this specific crypted and um and make it the official crypted of the of the city of Ithaca. Um do I read it at this point? Is that the time? If I may, you may summarize and move. Yeah.

Uh yeah, I'll summarize it. Um the uh the the this the city um let me read it. Where where whereas the city of Itha recognizes the intrinsic value of the natural world and the essential role that species play in maintaining ecological stability and advancing human knowledge and understanding. And whereas there exist documented sightings, historical accounts, and news reports of an unidentified aquatic creature described as long necked, serpentine, or snake- like inhabiting the waters of Cya Lake. And whereas such cryptic entities, while not yet substantiated by rigorous scientific inquiry, are nonetheless worthy of respect and protection as potential members of our biionic community. And whereas a crypted of this description has been woven into the folklore of Cuga Lake for nearly two centuries, inspiring fascination, wonder, and awe among residents of visitors throughout the Fingerlakes region. And whereas the city of Ithka recognizes that cultural heritage and local legends serve a vital role in connecting individuals to a shared sense of place and strengthening the bonds of the community. How therefore be it resolved that old Greeny is hereby designated a protected crypted of Cuga Lake and shall not be harassed, captured, harmed, or killed. And be it further resolved that Old Green is hereby designated the official crypted of the city of Ethica.

Is there a second? Seconded by Mr. Defendini. All those in favor?

No discussion. Carries unanimously. Um uh I have two appointments. I am reminded by this document. Uh I am moving to appoint uh Sam Pool and Victoria um I don't actually know if it's pronounced Barracks or Barrett uh to the Sustainability and Climate Justice Commission with terms that end on December 31st of 2027. Discussion All right. All those in favor carries unanimously. Um and now we are going to I'll entertain a motion to enter into an executive session to discuss pending or potential litigation. There is an anticipated vote after this res this executive session and I think one yeah one other depending how we count too. Um, and we will be back is the point to the public. Uh, may I have a motion to enter into executive session to discuss potential pending litigation? Mr. Fitzio, Mr. Trumble, all those in favor? That carries enormously.

May I have a motion to exit executive session? Moved by Mr. Fbritzio, seconded by Mr. Shapiro. All those in favor of exiting executive session, that carries unanim trumbly. Uh carries unanimously. Um, I will move uh this is a resolution authorizing and approving settlement agreements to an action related to the opioid crisis with various defendants. I will read the resolves and then I will enter in this paper copy to the record. Um, resolve that the city attorney is hereby authorized to coordinate with outside council to execute any and all appropriate documents on behalf of the city of Itha necessary to resolve the claims against the defendant. Be it further resolved the city controller is authorized to accept any and all funds dispersed pursuant to the settlement and be a further resolved the city controllers authorized to transfer all such funds to Tomkins County be used for the benefit of city residents pursuant to memorandum understanding to the city of Tomkins County for the distribution of opioid settlement funds dated January 23rd 2024. Any success or agreement that may have to be executed with respect to opioid settlement funds. I so move. Is there a second? Second by Mr. Trumbull. All those in favor that carries unanimously. You just pass that.

Thank you. Um, may I have motion enter executive session to discuss personnel matter? Mr. Fitzio, Mr. Trumbull, all those in favor carries unanimously. This one I think also can be in my office and

May I have a motion to exit executive session? Miss Moss, Mr. Trumbull, all those in favor of exiting executive session. That carries unanimously. I have two resolutions to introduce here. Whereas the search committee and acting city manager have concluded their interviews for the city controller position. And whereas the acting city manager recommends the appointment of Carissa Rablowski to the position of city controller. Now therefore, be it resolved that she is hereby appointed to the position of controller effective May 6th, 2026 at grade 12, step four of the current managerial compensation plan with an annual salary of $145,188. And be it further resolved that for the period of May 6 uh through the month of June uh she shall perform services in a part-time remote capacity and shall be compensated on an hourly basis for actual hours worked at the corresponding rate. Um be it further resolved that effective July 1 she shall assume the full duties of city controller on a full-time basis in person and shall therefore be compensated as as stated above. Uh may I have a second Mr. Wyn? Um what I will just kind of say further here is uh I was I had the opportunity to be on this search and I am extraordinarily excited uh that she is joining us. She is a veteran of the department of office of management budget from the state of Maryland and brings an immense amount of financial and management experience uh to this role. With that may I call for a vote. All those in favor of approving this appointment that carries unanimously. Now you can go home, Emily. I have another resolution to introduce. Uh whereas the search committee and acting city manager have concluded their interviews for the director of human resources position and whereas the acting city manager is recommending the appointment of uh uh uh remind me

Dr. Kahar Khan

Dr. Kahar Khan to the position of director of human resources. It is now therefore be it resolved that Kahar Khan be and hereby is appointed to the position of director of human resources effective May 6th 2026 at grade 11 step four of the managerial compensation plan with an annual salary of $133,199. I so move may I have a seconded by Miss Moss. All those in favor of this appointment that carries unanimously. I would also like to thank acting city manager Rekio for his diligence and attention on prioritizing the hiring of these two critical administrative roles in the city. Dominic, thank you very much for getting us over the finish line. Thank you.

And I'd like I'd like to take a quick moment to just thank uh acting director of HR Jamie Flynn and acting city controller Wendy Cole for their efforts. It's been much worse. With that, we will go into executive session to discuss personnel matter. There will be no voting item following this. So, I will ask I will thank the deputy clerk for her time. Ask her to end the broadcast as soon as we enter into executive session and I will ask folks to clear chambers. Um I think the agenda.

So, I do see it on the agenda. I did default to our previous mode. Um, if council have immediate comments or questions because I know you definitely all have had time to read it um on the city manager's report, please do so now. Otherwise, I'm happy to also uh have it discussed at uh subsequent meetings. That was an error on my part. Uh Mr. W. Oh, sorry. I meant to email this, but with regard to decommissioning the parking kiosks, are we near 100% app usage? like will there be a gap that we will need to fill and an education campaign for example?

There will be an education campaign. We are rolling out 163 uh new signs throughout the city in our parking zones that direct people to pay um via the app or or other mobile payment methods. Um I do know that um nearly 80% of the payments are made through the apps today. I'd of course like that to be it's going to be a little bit higher likely in the first uh quarter of this year as those signs have gone up. That's from uh the last quarter of last year. Uh so there will be a public education campaign uh related to it that our uh DICE department is working on. Mr. Trump, Mr. Number two,

um for these kinds of reports, do we keep tickets um completely separate slash like do we look at you know increases tickets as like a source of revenue? We do look at increased tickets as a source of revenue, but that is um separate than the report that you've received today. This is specifically the um parking fees. The fines are a separate um and one of the actions of council earlier this year was uh increasing the cost of those fines um which does have a subsequent increase in the revenue line. And you'll you you may see a little bit of that before the the full budget this year, but we'll be sure to call out exactly that revenue increase in the full budget presentation later this year. Awesome. Thank you, Mr. Vitzio.

Yeah, just two things. Um, one is just about accessible parking spaces. So, I've just heard from a lot of people in the city who um have problems finding these and I just wanted to uh just kind of put in a push for maximizing um the number of these that we can make available in the center in the center of the city. And then I just wanted to uh confirm that with regard to Asteri um the building department and the health department are still going to be actively engaged on a regular basis to ensure that all of those related violations are taken care of.

Absolutely. Yes. Uh the regular activities of the building division continue. um that's related to the um specific apartment habitability concerns that are raised uh from within the building. The fire department is conducting weekly fire code violation reviews um and they continue to do that and report that uh weekly. The health department from the county um is conducting its own effort related to county health code and board of health related law that is fully under the county purview. Um, and then related to the parking question you had, we have conducted a a thorough review of all paid parking spaces downtown, several and loading zones and other areas, and we are uh intending to transfer several of those to become uh accessible parking spaces. I'm waiting for a review likely when Victor is back on exactly what legislation needs to be brought forth because I believe our code includes every single parking space um in the city. uh or at least block and and where they where they are. And so I want to make sure that what's brought forth to you uh is appropriate for exactly what changes may need to happen if in fact it does need to be brought forth. But we have conducted that review from our staff and in concert with the downtown Ithaca Alliance.

Thank you. And um with regard to the health department and the planning department, they will be in there on a regular basis to ensure that this is all fixed. On the health department, let's talk bilaterally because I can't answer that um on the floor. Okay. Building department.

The building department has a regular inspection schedule um of buildings that they follow and um they would be doing that as they would any building and then they are they inspect units when complaints uh arise. Um and those have led to the to the um violations from the building division that we have um that are current. Um, and so as complaints arise, they will uh go and inspect those units and u andor an entire building. It's different from different types of buildings how they conduct those inspections. Um, and then they have a regular um sort of follow-up cadence for those reinspections, but oftentimes, to my knowledge, the landlord um or property owner needs to allow the building division to do those reinspections. And there's some maybe some units that cannot be entered um for certain, you know, reasons. So they don't all they're not always on the same cadence of every 30 days they're reinspected. Um but there are reinspection schedules that they follow.

My concern is just because this has been so much we've ended up with such an unhealthy unsafe place for residents there. Um, and I know that we don't have, you know, the inspection schedule is not I mean it's pretty long span of time can be pretty long. So, I'm just wondering if there's a way to ensure that this gets like extra that we are like really totally on top of this and this this gets extra special treatment with regard to the amount of time between inspections and and reinspections uh because we all know uh the dire situation that people have been living in there and I I I just I really want to see this fixed. The two things I' I'd like to say in response to that, one is that I would encourage anyone who has a concern related to uh building code um that they contact our uh building uh certain building division at the city of Ithaca. Um they can find the phone number online or or give them a call or send them an email. They can always CC me if they want to make sure that that um you know is is attended to. Um, but the building division does follow up on those complaints as they come in. As it relates to the health department, I would say the exact same thing. People should just contact them if they have concerns related to that code. We do not operate the health department at the city of Ithaca. Our fire department does weekly inspections. That is a significant effort from our fire department. That does represent us taking this very seriously and being quote unquote on top of the issue. And I feel as though those weekly reports that the fire department is conducting are comprehensive and including um you know oftentimes several dozen fire related fire code related uh violations or otherwise. Those uh reports do include some sanitary items. So you're referencing health and safety in the building. Um so I I don't want um you know Chief Moody's here and could certainly respond to to other pieces of

it. I forgot you were here. Sorry, Chief Moody. Um but uh when as it relates to those uh reports, there are several sanitary items that are quoted in that in that fire code review,

right? So going every week is sort of above and beyond what we would normally do, which is awesome. And and I think that that's the kind of thing that we should be doing in the building department as well. And I would ultimately like to see that that the city is compensated uh in some way. I want us I would like to see the city attorney's office be thinking about um you know nuisance property fees, associated fees, etc. I just really feel that it has taken so many resources um from the opening of that building and we should be compensated in some way. I'd like to see us thinking about how we can do that.

Hey Mr. uh Mr. Su who has not spoken yet. Uh just noting the comment actually in the document as a as a council person. Why um does removing those uh physical parking things save us money?

We have a contract with and I believe the company um is called T2 Systems. That contract is an annual service agreement that we are paying for um the licensing of the technology uh that operates those um and perhaps some um other service agreement with the with the firm um that we use and they are at the end of their useful life um and they and that also means that they need to be constantly repaired. Um, so we have uh I kind of see it as uh like a pile of used uh droids in our um Department of Public Works. Um and they are constantly going to take old parts from those and repair uh the ones that we have. And so that costs us a significant amount of staff time um and other pieces as well. So those are the two savings areas. One you'll see directly in the budget as savings. The other sort of a freeing up of staff time for other work. So maintenance and um leasing costs or I guess leasing

technology leasing and customer service is is what I would put it under. Okay. Thank you Mr. Win. Uh sorry Margaret reminded me in addition to handicap you the city reevaluated some um loading zones and just a shout out to Ithaca Reddit. I do read it and you know I pay attention. So one of the complaints I saw was on Eddie Street some loading zones were removed and a delivery guy was upset about it. So, I just encourage continuous I I'll send it to you, too. But, uh, continuous reevaluation. Yeah, we can continue reevaluate up in up in College Town as a second phase to this. I'm interested in that very much.

All right. Thank you very much. Apologies for forgetting. And, uh, now I'll to entertain a motion to enter into executive session to discuss personnel matter. Miss Fitzio, Mr. Trumbull, all those in favor? That carries unanimously and we will not be returning. Thank you very much, Deputy Clerk.