Ithaca's city council approved grant funding for youth employment programs and revised the city's special-event permit rules during its Aug. 5 voting meeting.
The youth programs are expected to serve more than 150 people in Ithaca and nearby communities with employment opportunities, job-readiness training, financial literacy education and workforce development support, according to the city.
Youth and city operations
The accepted grants support the Tompkins Youth Employment Program, Tompkins Summer Youth Employment Program, Joint Youth Commission First-Time Work Program and Danby Youth Commission Youth Employment Program.
Council also authorized recruitment for a vacancy in the city attorney's office, allowing the city to hire either an assistant city attorney or a municipal legal analyst. It updated compensation procedures for deputy department heads serving in extended acting roles and amended the purchasing policy.
Event permits and public works
Changes to the special-event rules create classifications based on an event's size and impact, revise application procedures and fees, and require written permission from property owners when an applicant plans an event on property they do not own.
Council renewed wastewater agreements with the village of Cayuga Heights through 2030. The agreements cover pretreatment coordination and management of wastewater flows between facilities during peak conditions.
City projects
City officials said work has begun on Ithaca's 2027 budget and recruitment is underway for the ROOTS Community Responder Program. A more detailed ROOTS update is scheduled for the council's Aug. 12 committee meeting.
The city said its contracted 2026 paving program will not move forward because of higher construction costs and limited contractor interest, though city crews will continue paving work. Engineers are also continuing to evaluate the Seneca Street Garage while safety scaffolding remains in place.
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