On the agenda: Ithaca meeting — data center (Jul 13)

Sustainability & Climate Justice Commission Agenda
Date
Time
Location
Watch Online

Item

Monday, July 13th
5 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
https://www.youtube.com/@CityofIthacaPublicMeetings

Voting

Presenter

Time
Allotted

1. Call to Order
1.1 Agenda Review

No

Fernando de Aragon, member

5

2. Public Comment
2.1 Statement from the Public
2.2 Commission Response

No
No

Fernando de Aragon, member

10
5

Yes

Fernando de Aragon, member

5

No

Claire Burnet and Niki RayIsraelsohn

30

No

Sustainability staff

30

Fernando de Aragon, member

5

3. Meeting Minutes
3.1 Adopt meeting minutes from
April, May, and June 2026
4. Announcements, Reports, &
Presentations
4.1 Participatory Budget presentation
5. New Business
5.1 Extreme heat response
6. Meeting Wrap-up
6.1 Next Meeting: August 10th
6.2 Agenda Planning for Next Meeting
6.3 Adjournment

No
No
Yes

APRIL 13, 2026
SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE JUSTICE COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Date:
Location:
YouTube Link:

Monday, April 13, 2026
City Hall Council Chambers
https://tinyurl.com/46nx8wd4

Attendance Record of Voting Members
Name
Aaron Fernando, Chair
David Kay, Vice Chair
Sam Poole, Vice Chair
Alexander Travis
Fernando de Aragon
Christine O’Malley
Iris Packman
Victoria Barics
Nick Goldsmith

Present

Absent
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Attendence of Common Council Liaisons
Name
Robin Trumble, 4th Ward
Hannah Shvets, 5th Ward

Present

Absent
X
X

1. Call to Order
Discussion Summary: The April 13th, 2026 meeting of the Sustainability & Climate Justice
Commission was called to order at 5:03PM. Eight voting members are in attendance and both
Common Council liaisons are present. Staff review the agenda. There are no changes to the
agenda.
2. Public Comment
There is no public comment.
3. Announcements & New Business
3.1. Group Introductions
Discussion Summary: Commission members introduced themselves to new members.
3.2. CCA Update

Discussion Summary: Staff provided an update on CCA programming. Suppliers are not
bidding on CCA programs due to unreliability of state decision-making. Staff have
decided to pause Ithaca program because outreach technically doesn’t “count” under
state CCA regulations. Will continue to focus on DER program, which is regulated
differently. Upcoming outreach meetings, including this Thursday’s, will only cover DER.
Commission members asked follow up questions of staff. Questions timestamp: 10:05.
3.3. Vice Chairs
Discussion Summary: Staff described that Commission still needs a VC according to
Charter and discussed responsibilities. Sam Poole and David Kay nominated as VCs. Staff
and Chair asked if Commission would like to continue with two VCs.
Moved by: Fernando de Aragon
Second: Christine O’Malley
All in Favor: Unanimous 8-0.
Nominate David and Sam as Vice Chairs.
Moved by: Fernando de Aragon
Second: Iris Packman
All in Favor: Unanimous 8-0.
4. Presentations, Reports, & Discussion
4.1. Energy Policies for Renters
Discussion Summary: Staff gave an overview of progress to achieve energy equity for
rental properties. Staff currently working with Building Power Resource Center for
technical assistance. Scope of work includes home energy score ordinance and
maximum temperature ordinance.
4.2. Community Data Gathering
Discussion Summary: Staff described that they need more information on air
quality/temperatures in rental housing – existing data is mostly anecdotal. Staff asked
Commission what data points/questions should be asked of residents in a survey.
Commission asked questions and provided feedback. Staff requested assistance tabling
for Earth Day festival this coming Saturday, April 18th to help administer survey. Staff will
follow up via email.
5. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by: David Kay
Second: Sam Poole
Meeting adjourned at 6:27 PM.

MAY 11, 2026
SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE JUSTICE COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Date:
Location:
YouTube Link:

Monday, May 11, 2026
City Hall Council Chambers
https://tinyurl.com/3vp26trt

Attendance Record of Voting Members
Name
Aaron Fernando, Chair
David Kay, Vice Chair
Sam Poole, Vice Chair
Alexander Travis
Fernando de Aragon
Christine O’Malley
Iris Packman
Victoria Barics
Nick Goldsmith

Present

Absent
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Attendence of Common Council Liaisons
Name
Robin Trumble, 4th Ward
Hannah Shvets, 5th Ward

Present

Absent
X
X

1. Call to Order
Discussion Summary: The May 11th, 2026 meeting of the Sustainability & Climate Justice
Commission was called to order. Five voting members are in attendance and Robin Trumble, 4th
Ward and Common Council liaison, is present. Staff review the agenda. Item 3.1 is moved to
item 3.3 on the agenda.
2. Public Comment
There was no public comment
3. Announcements, Reports, & Presentations
3.1. CCA/DER Update

Discussion Summary: Staff provided an update on DER programming. DER program is
allowed under state law and will continue as planned. Outreach on CCA is still paused.
Commission members asked follow up questions of staff. Questions timestamp: 11:17.
3.2. CAP Update
Discussion Summary: Staff gave a brief update on the Climate Action Plan process. The
CAP will be reviewed by Council in the next month. The Commission’s recommendation
will be sent with the CAP to Council. Commission members asked follow up questions
about the CAP. Questions timestamped at 18:47.
3.3. Earth Day Debrief
Discussion Summary: The Commission discussed the Earth Day Festival that occurred on
Saturday, April 18th. Timestamp 33:47.
4. Vice Chairs
Discussion Summary: Staff described that Commission still needs a VC according to Charter and
discussed responsibilities. Sam Poole and David Kay nominated as VCs. Staff and Chair asked if
Commission would like to continue with two VCs.
Moved by: Fernando de Aragon
Second: Christine O’Malley
All in Favor: Unanimous 8-0.
Nominate David and Sam as Vice Chairs.
Moved by: Fernando de Aragon
Second: Iris Packman
All in Favor: Unanimous 8-0.
5. Reports
5.1. Energy Policies for Renters
Discussion Summary: Staff gave an overview of progress to achieve energy equity for
rental properties. Staff currently working with Building Power Resource Center for
technical assistance. Scope of work includes home energy score ordinance and
maximum temperature ordinance.
5.2. Community Data Gathering
Discussion Summary: Staff described that they need more information on air
quality/temperatures in rental housing – existing data is mostly anecdotal. Staff asked
Commission what data points/questions should be asked of residents in a survey.
Commission asked questions and provided feedback. Staff requested assistance tabling
for Earth Day festival this coming Saturday, April 18th to help administer survey. Staff will
follow up via email.

6. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by: David Kay
Second: Sam Poole
Meeting adjourned at 6:27 PM.

June 8, 2026
SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE JUSTICE COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Date:
Location:
YouTube Link:

Monday, June 8, 2026
City Hall Council Chambers
https://tinyurl.com/236ua2t5

Attendance Record of Voting Members
Name
Aaron Fernando, Chair
David Kay, Vice Chair
Sam Poole, Vice Chair
Alexander Travis
Fernando de Aragon
Christine O’Malley
Iris Packman
Victoria Barics
Nick Goldsmith

Present

Absent
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X (virtual)

Attendence of Common Council Liaisons
Name
Robin Trumble, 4th Ward
Hannah Shvets, 5th Ward

Present

Absent
X
X

1. Call to Order
Discussion Summary: The June 9th, 2026 meeting of the Sustainability & Climate Justice
Commission was called to order at 5:01PM. Seven voting members are in attendance, with one
member attending virtually, and one Common Council liaison present. There are no changes to
the agenda.
2. Public Comment (1:40)
Zachary Winn provided a public comment expressing concern about the Ithaca Energy Code
Supplement.
3. Announcements, Reports, & Presentations
3.1. IECS update (5:24)

Discussion Summary: Staff provided an update about the Ithaca Energy Code
Supplement (IECS), the final phase of which is anticipated to go into effect on October 1,
2026. This is a delayed timeline from the originally anticipated January 1, 2026 due to
pending litigation at the state level. The Town of Ithaca has already put the new phase
of the IECS into effect. Commission members asked follow up questions of staff (9:29).
3.2. Rate case discussion (20:35)
Discussion Summary: Staff provided an overview of the NYSEG rate case and the update
that the Public Service Commission has opted to implement temporary rate increases of
0.2% for residential electric and 1.7% for residential gas. The rate case will now return to
settlement for additional negotiation. Commission members asked follow up questions
of staff (26:49).
(35:39) Staff additionally discussed long term strategies to mitigate the impact of
increasing utility rats in the City. This includes continued advocacy in rate cases and the
Grid of the Future proceeding, as well as exploring the possibility of aggregating
municipal rooftop solar projects across the county and potentially the state. The first
step would be completing rooftop structural analyses for the municipal buildings in the
City of Ithaca to evaluate suitability for solar and/or what upgrades are necessary.
Commission members asked follow up questions of staff (40:37).
3.3. NYSEG resolution discussion (59:47)
Discussion Summary: Staff shared a resolution that was passed at last week’s Common
Council meeting, which called for the NYS Attorney General to investigate the financial
relationship between Avangrid and Iberdrola. Additional context was provided for why
the resolution was introduced, which was member filed by the Mayor on behalf of
sustainability staff. Commission members asked follow up questions of staff (1:03:41).
3.4. Heat Study (1:06:20)
Discussion Summary: Staff explained that the City of Ithaca is recruiting participants for
an indoor heat study that attempts to understand indoor air temperature, the health
effects of heat exposure, and to create models that can predict home temperatures.
Commission members asked follow up questions of staff (1:10:42).

4. Meeting Wrap Up
4.1. Agenda Planning for next meeting (1:28:21)
Staff suggested bringing an outside expert to the next meeting who could explain the
Switchbox study on the effect of utility rates on ratepayers with electric heating.

Commission members expressed interest in discussing the state-level bill that includes a
one-year moratorium on data centers, and well as the implications of CLCPA rollbacks.
4.2. Motion to Adjourn (1:32:00)
Moved by: Sam Poole
Second: Fernando de Aragon
All in Favor: Unanimous 7-0.

Meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM.