# 10-21-2026 COW B Meeting


**Body:** City of Ithaca Public Meetings
**Date:** October 20, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Construction & Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure


The City of Ithaca Common Council’s Committee of the Whole B meeting on October 21, 2026, included a unanimous vote authorizing $91,000 to complete final design work for the Steuart Park project. Staff said the design phase was nearing completion, the full bid package was expected within two weeks, and the funding would help make competitive bids possible by the first quarter of 2027. Council discussed a total construction cost of approximately $6.3 million and about $3.2 million already allocated toward it; one member called for a clearer process and greater Council involvement in decisions about the funding source. The Council also unanimously approved naming the flood-control-channel footbridge the Tim Lo Memorial Bridge.

The meeting included public comments on the 2027 budget, including objections to eliminating the confidential employees’ wellness incentive and differing views on proposed city positions and staffing costs. Council debated a local law to authorize exceeding New York State’s property-tax cap, with members citing affordability, fiscal restraint, and budget flexibility; the transcript ends before the vote is shown. No other contract awards or vendor selections were identifiable.

**Source:** City of Ithaca Public Meetings