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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStreets27 Public and Stakeholder Engagement PlanSTREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 1 CONTENTS: 1. Purpose + Objectives 2 2. Project Team Contact Information 5 3. Public Engagement Approach 2 4. Project Steering Committee 7 5. Meetings 8 6. Other Outreach Tools 13 7. Outreach Success Measures 14 APPENDICES: Appendix A – Project Schedule 16 Appendix B – Rules of Conduct at Public Meetings and Rules for Public Comments 17 This PSEP was prepared for the Town of Ithaca STREETS ‘27 Forest Home, Ithaca, New York Public and Stakeholder Engagement Plan STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 2 1. Purpose + Objectives 1.1. Purpose The purpose of this Public and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (PSEP) is to outline the methods the Town of Ithaca and Project Team (Fisher Associates) will use to ensure that adequate opportunities are afforded to stakeholders and the public during the “Streets & Trail Reimagined for Everyone to Enjoy and Traverse Safely ’27” project. For the purposes of the PSEP, the project will be referred to as “STREETS ‘27” or “the Project.” While the PSEP is intended to provide a framework for public participation, it is also intended to be a dynamic and flexible tool. As such, the PSEP was developed with the flexibility to adapt, as necessary, to any changing needs that may occur over the course of the planning process. 1.2. Public Participation Plan Objectives 1. Develop a public engagement process that encourages active participation in the planning process and promotes buy-in through by multiple opportunities to provide input on the Project and review Project recommendations. 2. Document methods to seek out and consider the needs of all stakeholders impacted by the Project. 3. Provide contact information for the Town of Ithaca and Fisher Associates. 4. Provide information about the location of project information and documentation. 5. Document the general outline/plan for public meetings including meeting notifications and other engagement events, as appropriate. Continuous community involvement and stakeholder engagement is essential to achieve the objectives of the Project and to help ensure consistency between the community’s vision and future recommendations for Forest Home’s transportation network. The Town of Ithaca and Project Team will seek input from a wide variety of individuals, groups and organizations including the Forest Home community. Partnerships with other Town departments, public entities, and higher education institutions create opportunities to leverage a variety of resources and points of view, as well as engaging partners responsible for implementation at all stages of the Project. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 3 1.3. Project Description Located in the northeastern part of the Town of Ithaca, in Tompkins County, New York, the Forest Home community is served by a network of local and county roads, bridges, and trails. Most roads within Forest Home are owned and maintained by the Town of Ithaca, Cornell University, or Tompkins County. Much of the community is located in the Forest Home Historic District, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Reference the location map below. The vision for the Project is stated on the Forest Home Improvement Association website: STREETS ’27 Streets & Trails Reimagined for Everyone to Enjoy and Traverse Safely STREETS ’27 is a multi-year project involving the residents of Forest Home, the Town of Ithaca, Cornell University, Tompkins County, and other stakeholders. The goal is to improve the quality of life in Forest Home by: • Reducing the impacts of traffic • Improving safety for vulnerable road users • Maintaining or enhancing our Forest Home streetscape Community engagement is a key component of this project. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 4 Figure 1: Project Location Map STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 5 The purpose of STREETS ‘27 is to develop practicable strategies and recommendations to reduce traffic impacts within the study area, while improving connectivity, mobility, safety, and access for pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles. The goals of the Project are to adapt the transportation network to provide safe access for all users; prioritize pedestrian and bicycle links between key transportation assets and destinations; and promote active transportation and a multi-modal system integrated with neighboring anchor institution Cornell University. A portion of Cornell land is shown in the study area to reflect Arboretum Rd as the southern boundary and as an important connector to the Forest Home Community. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 1 2. Project Team Contact Information C.J. Randall, LEED AP ND, Director of Planning Town of Ithaca Town of Ithaca Town Hall, 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 273-1721 x120 E-mail: cjrandall@townithacany.gov Tim Faulkner, P.E., Senior Transportation Manager Fisher Associates 120 E Washington Street, Suite 325 Syracuse, NY 13202 Office: 315.422.4811 x267 Cell: 315.415.5642 E-mail: tfaulkner@fisherassoc.com Frank Armento, AICP, CEP, Senior Project Advisor Fisher Associates 55 Chicago Street, Suite 200 Buffalo, NY 14204 Office: 716.858.1234 x306 Cell: 716.465.2817 E-mail: FArmento@fisherassoc.com Kimberly Van Leeuwen, RLA, Client Liaison Fisher Associates 1001 W Seneca Street, Unit 201 Ithaca, NY 14850 Office: 607-277-1400 x112 Cell: 607.319.1114 E-mail: KVanLeeuwen@fisherassoc.com Sarah Paufve, AICP, Planner Fisher Associates 180 Charlotte Street Rochester, NY 14607 Office: 585.334.1310 x208 Cell: 585.210.0992 E-mail: SPaufve@fisherassoc.com STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 2 3. Public Engagement Approach The Project Team utilized the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) “Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision- Making” (2022) to develop the approach to the PSEP. This document acts as a best practice guide for public engagement for transportation projects and transportation professionals. Strategies for successful public engagement are detailed in Figure 2 and in the section below. Figure 2: Features of meaningful public involvement Credit: USDOT 3.1. Understanding the Community Demographics For the purposes of this analysis, the Forest Home Census Designated Place (CDP) boundary was determined to be the enumeration district most closely associated with the study area. Note that because the CDP does not perfectly align with the geographic boundary of the study area, there are differences between the demography of the study area and the data for the CDP as presented below. Demographics analyzed for the PSEP include: A. Population B. Race and Ethnicity STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 3 C. Age D. Education Level E. English Proficiency Details on how these demographics will influence public outreach are highlighted in the sections below. Population According to the 2024 American Community Survey, the population of the Forest Home CDP is 1,303 (+/- 354). This is an increase from the 2020 census population of 1,168. It is important to note this includes Cornell’s Hasbrouck Apartments, which is outside the study area and home to approximately 700 residents, which is likely responsible for outliers in demographic characteristics described below. In total, there are 457 households in the Forest Home CDP, with an average household size of 2.22. Race and Ethnicity The largest racial groups in the Forest Home CDP are Asian (43.1%), White (30.2%), and Black (14.8%) (see Figure 3). The ethnicity of the Forest Home CDP is 90.3% Non-Hispanic and 9.7% Hispanic (see Figure 4). Figure 3: Forest Home CDP Race 30.2% 14.8% 1.7% 43.1% 0.0%3.9% 6.3% Forest Home CDP, Race (ACS 2024) White alone  Black or African American alone American Indian and Alaska Native alone Asian alone Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone Some Other Race alone STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 4 Figure 4: Forest Home CDP Ethnicity Age The median age of the Forest Home CDP is 29.5 years. The 25-34 year cohort is the largest cohort. This is likely influenced by the Hasbrouck Apartments associated with Cornell University. Other large cohorts include the 65+ cohort, representing retired populations. Education Level According to the 2024 ACS, there are 870 people over the age of 25 in the Forest Home CDP. The vast majority graduated high school (99.8%) and hold a bachelor’s degree or higher (96.6%). English Proficiency 295 of 457 households in the Forest Home CDP (64.6%) speak a language other than English at home. The largest language group spoken other than English includes Asian and Pacific Island languages. This large percentage of non-English speakers is likely due to the inclusion of Hasbrouck Apartments within the Forest Home CDP. 3.2. Build Durable Community Relationships For over 48 years, the Project Team has been rooted in the Ithaca community, which has resulted in trusted relationships with project stakeholders and residents. Where possible, the Project Team will involve its staff members that have strong community ties in public engagement activities and decision making. The Project Team will also engage the Project Steering Committee (PSC), which includes stakeholders and community members with prior relationships in the community and experience with previous projects that affected the Forest Home community (see Section 4.2). The PSC is responsible for overseeing the progress of the Project, providing guidance for project tasks and deliverables, and providing feedback to the Project Team. In addition, in order to build relationships and trust between the Project Team and community residents, the Project Team participated in a “Meet and Greet” with 9.7% 90.3% Forest Home CDP, Ethnicity (ACS 2024) Hispanic Non-Hispanic STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 5 community members to solicit initial feedback on what the transportation issues are that face the Forest Home community before undertaking major project activities (see Section 5.2). The findings from the “Meet and Greet” and all subsequent project meetings will be discussed in a meeting summary prepared for engagement activities. 3.3. Understand Community Wants and Needs Through the PSC, Public Events, and other outreach tools, the Project Team will work to understand community needs. These outreach activities will help to influence the Project’s vision statement as well as actionable feedback on draft project materials. Specific outreach activities are detailed in the sections below. 3.4. Involve a Broad Representation of Community All public engagement activities will be open to the general public. Meeting notifications will be posted on multiple channels (Town of Ithaca website, project website, PSC member websites, social media, press releases, physical flyers, etc.), with efforts made to ensure meeting notification reaches all members of the community. 3.5. Use Community’s Preferred Engagement Techniques As noted above, the Forest Home CDP has a diverse age demographic, including young adults, families, and retired populations. Some of these populations may prefer digital communications and technology for surveys and project materials, while other groups may experience barriers to using technology or prefer physical engagement. As such, both physical and digital forms of engagement will be used for public meeting materials, notifications, and project surveys (see Section 5.3 for additional information). Because of the high educational attainment within the study area, it is likely that most residents will be able to use technology assisted engagement techniques such as QR codes, online surveys, and the project website. However, print materials will be available where applicable and upon request. Public meetings will be held in spaces conveniently located to the community. The Forest Home CDP has a large percentage of the population speaking a language other than English at home, likely due to the inclusion of Hasbrouck Apartments within the Forest Home CDP. The Project Team will ensure that any reasonable accommodation that allows persons with disabilities, with hearing impairments, or those in need of translation from English, to participate in a public meeting will be honored provided a request to do so is made in advance. Anyone seeking accommodation is requested to contact the Town of Ithaca at least one month before the meeting, or within one week of the release of the meeting notice by the Town of Ithaca (whichever comes later). Information provided to the public will be designed to be effectively received and understood by the intended audience using clear and simple language, with every effort to avoid technical jargon and instead use visualization techniques, maps, photographs, 3D animation, infographics, or videos. 3.6. Document and Share Community’s Impact on Decisions The Project’s vision statement was developed by FHIA and has been incorporated into the PSEP. This Vision Statement will be verified through public outreach activities and will be STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 6 used, alongside public outreach efforts, to guide project concepts and recommendations. The Project Team will demonstrate how recommendations are tied to this vision statement in public meetings and in the final plan. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 7 4. Project Steering Committee 4.1. Overview The PSC is responsible for overseeing the progress of the Project, providing guidance for project tasks and deliverables, and providing feedback to the Project Team. 4.2. Members Name Organization Phone/Email Rod Howe Town Supervisor Town of Ithaca 607.273.1721 RHowe@TownIthacaNY.gov C.J. Randall Director of Planning 607.273.1721 x 120 cjrandall@townithacany.gov Joe Slater Director of Public Works 607.273.1656 jslater@townithacany.gov Justin McNeal Civil Engineer 607.273.1656 x 260 jmcneal@townithacany.gov Robin Blakely-Armitage Forest Home Improvement Association (FHIA) rmb18@cornell.edu aolavine@gmail.com jenniferleeloucks@gmail.com ruthmahr@gmail.com ctrautmann@sciencenter.org Ari Lavine Jennifer Loucks Ruth Mahr Charlie Trautmann Leslie Schill University Planner and Director of Campus Planning Cornell University 607.255.5239 leslie.schill@cornell.edu Jennifer Tavares Director for Community Relations 607.244.9026 jennifer.tavares@cornell.edu Tom Knipe Director of Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council Tompkins County 607.274.5570 tknipe@tompkins-co.org STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 8 5. Meetings 5.1. Project Steering Committee Meetings The PSC is responsible for providing guidance for project tasks and deliverables and providing feedback to the Project Team. PSC meetings provide the opportunity for the members to review, discuss, and provide feedback on the Project. Through the PSC’s guidance and feedback, the Project Team will ensure the planning process aligns with the goals, objectives, and recommendations of the STREET ‘27 Plan. Participation PSC membership was identified by the Town of Ithaca and Forest Home Improvement Association, and includes representatives from Town staff, Tompkins County Staff, Forest Home Improvement Association Members, property owners, and public and private organizations with a significant interest in the Project. Notification Notification of the date, time, and agenda for each PSC meeting, along with virtual meeting links, will be provided by the Project Team to the Town of Ithaca via email. The Town of Ithaca will be responsible for coordination with the PSC via email and will include the Project Team in correspondence with the PSC. Coordination Meetings The planning process includes regular coordination meetings with the client and meetings with the PSC to be held at key points/milestones during the Project. Approximate dates for each PSC meeting will be determined as the Project progresses and will be announced by the Town of Ithaca via email. Meetings will be conducted virtually and will be recorded for use by the PSC. Documentation Documentation of each PSC meeting will be the responsibility of the Project Team and will include meeting minutes provided by email within one (1) week and posted to the project website (see Section 6.1) within a reasonable timeframe after the completion of the meeting. 5.2. Public Events One (1) public “Meet and Greet,” one day of public walking tours of three separate geographic areas (see details below), two (2) public workshops/open houses, and one (1) presentation to the Town Board are included as part of the planning process to ensure the public is well-informed throughout all phases of the Project. Meeting details are described below with specific objectives and formats. Meetings are intended to be held in person; however, meetings can be held virtually if deemed necessary. Public events may be attended by any member of the public, regardless of residency. Specific guidance for public events, including location, furnishings, equipment, accessibility, is provided in Appendix B. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 9 Accommodations The Project Team will ensure that any reasonable accommodation that allows persons with disabilities, with hearing impairments, or those in need of translation from English, to participate in a public meeting will be honored provided a request to do so is made in advance. Anyone seeking accommodation is requested to contact the Town of Ithaca at least one month before the meeting, or within one week of the release of the meeting notice by the Town of Ithaca (whichever comes later). Notifications Notification will be provided by the Town of Ithaca using various channels which may include, as appropriate, direct mail (targeted to those adjacent/near the study area), newspaper advertisement, press releases, postings on the Town of Ithaca’s website, postings on the project website, postings on Forest Home Improvement Association and other PSC member websites, and social media outreach. Additionally, the Town of Ithaca will post meeting notices on its municipal website and to the project website (see Section 6.1). This broad range of media seeks to encourage participation by those typically underrepresented in the planning process. Meeting notification and coordination of all meeting notifications will be the responsibility of the Town of Ithaca, with support from the Project Team. Material/text for meeting notifications will be provided by the Project Team to the Town of Ithaca. All notifications will provide necessary information about the public meeting, contact information to enable access to more project information, and contact information to request meeting accommodation. Other public notifications will include but are not limited to: • An announcement made at the start of Town Board meetings and Forest Home Improvement Association events • Posters at local businesses and gathering places, such as East Hill Plaza, Community Corners, and Forest Home Chapel • Bike Walk Tompkins (Center for Community Transportation). • Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council newsletter • Finger Lakes Cycling Club Meeting Materials Meeting materials will be created by the Project Team including a meeting agenda, handouts, presentation, surveys, poster boards, sign-in sheets, and/or comment card (as appropriate). Meeting materials will be provided to the Town a maximum of two (2) weeks before each outreach event. Documentation Documentation of the public engagement events will be the responsibility of the Project Team. The documentation provided will be in the form of a meeting summary which will include a summary of the presentation given by the Project Team, photographs from the meeting, and the comments/questions and feedback received. The meeting summary and all meeting material used during the public meeting will be made publicly available STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 10 on the project website (see Section 6.1) approximately two (2) weeks after the completion of the meeting. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 11 Objectives & Format Event Objectives Format “Meet and Greet” Introduce key project staff from the Project Team to the community, understand transportation issues, community goals and objectives for the Project. The meeting was structured as an informal “meet and greet”. This meeting was held on Monday, June 15, 2026 from 4:30-6pm. Community Walking Tours Opportunity for consultants to walk around the community with residents for direct input regarding specific issues (traffic, intersections, bridges, side paths, streetscape, etc.) Meet at Forest Home Chapel. Divide into three groups, each led by a member of Fisher’s Project Team. Cover: Judd Falls Rd, downstream bridge to Warren Rd stop sign, and Warren Rd, upstream bridge, 300 Block of Forest Home Dr. Community Walking Tours are planned during peak traffic times. Stakeholder Interviews Interviews will be conducted with relevant stakeholders to obtain input on goals, objectives, key issues, preferred communication tools, and public policy considerations. See Section 5.1 for additional details. Stakeholder interviews are expected to be held virtually. See Section 5.1 for additional details. Project Survey A survey will be made available to the community to solicit feedback on existing opportunities and constraints, and potential recommendations, for the Project. See Section 5.3 for additional details. Project survey will be conducted using Survey 123 (or similar software). See Section 5.3 for additional details. Public Outreach Event #1 An initial kick-off meeting and workshop to explain the STREETS ‘27 and the Project’s intent and scope, review existing condition, and to solicit initial public input on key topics related to existing conditions, constraints, and opportunities. The meeting will include: 1. A presentation by the Project Team. 2. An open-house-style forum for meeting attendees to provide feedback on interactive exhibits, either stationed around the room or on tables for group collaboration. The open-house portion of the meeting is intended to provide people an opportunity to ask questions and clarify their understanding of the project. 3. An evening timeslot (such as 6:00 – 8:00 pm) and Town staff will stay until 8:00 pm, even if no members of the public are present, and only until everyone who wishes to speak has had an opportunity to do so. 4. Comments may be provided at the meeting by comment cards and during the public comment session. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 12 Public Outreach Event #2 A presentation and informational meeting on the Draft Concepts and recommendations that walks the community through the initial project planning and allows feedback on proposed project elements and strategies. The meeting will include: 1. A short presentation. 2. An open-house-style forum for meeting attendees to provide feedback on poster boards. The open-house portion of the meeting is intended to provide people an opportunity to ask questions and clarify their understanding of the project. 3. An evening timeslot (such as 6:00 – 8:00 pm) and Town staff will stay until 8:00 pm, even if no members of the public are present, and only until everyone who wishes to speak has had an opportunity to do so. 4. Comments may be provided at the meeting by comment cards and during the public comment session. Town Board Meeting A presentation of the final concepts and draft report at a meeting of local officials and community members. The meeting will include: 1. A presentation by the Project Team. 2. Time for questions and answers. 3. Setup to accommodate up to 70 attendees (150 standing room only) at Ithaca Town Hall. The Town Clerk will take public comments at the meeting and document the formal comment session. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 13 6. Other Outreach Tools Several tools will be employed to organize information, document community and stakeholder input, and evaluate the stakeholder and public participation process. Additional outreach tools are described below. 6.1. Agency Stakeholder Briefings Individual meetings with agency stakeholders will be informal but structured to obtain input on goals, objectives, key issues, preferred communication tools, and public policy considerations. Input obtained from the agency stakeholder briefings will be shared with the team and incorporated in the public participation program. The Town of Ithaca will provide contact information for key stakeholders, which may include but may not be limited to, the following organizations: • Town’s Director of Code Enforcement & Zoning (who is the Authority Having Jurisdiction) • Ithaca Fire Department • Cayuga Heights Fire Department • New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) • Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (Bolton Point) • New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) • Tompkins County Highway Department • Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) • New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) • Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC) • Tompkins Consolidated Transit (TCAT) • Historic Ithaca. 6.2. Project Webpage The Town will create a project webpage that includes the following information about the Project: • Introduction – A brief summary of the Project, and can be used to promote upcoming or ongoing engagement activities. • About – Includes the history of the Project; study area map; summary of project purpose; and the Project’s vision, goals, and objectives. • Get Involved – Notification of future and ongoing engagement activities. • Project Documents – A repository for all project documents, including public engagement documents and approved deliverables. The project website will be clearly linked on the Town’s website via a link on the Planning Department’s webpage and subpage at https://townithacany.gov/forest-home-traffic- calming-plan-update-streets-27. The project website will be hosted by the Town for the length of the Project. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 14 6.3. Project Survey A project survey will be conducted using Survey 123 (or similar software). The survey will be used to help determine the existing opportunities and constraints in the community and begin to solicit feedback from the community on potential recommendations. The survey will be posted on the project website and will be compatible for printing. The Town of Ithaca will promote the survey through social media, as applicable. 6.4. Document Repository Digital copies of project-related materials presented during PSC and public meetings will be provided by the Project Team to the Town of Ithaca. These meeting materials will be posted on the project website and the Town of Ithaca website. The Town of Ithaca will be responsible for providing such materials for public review upon request. Project documents will be made available in hardcopy format for review at Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga St., Ithaca, NY 14850. 6.5. Traditional Media Content for traditional media posts such as press releases will be provided by the Project Team, with input from the Town of Ithaca, and the PSC. The Town of Ithaca will coordinate press releases as necessary. 7. Outreach Success Measures The Project Team used USDOT’s “Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making” (2022) to create guidelines for measuring the success of public outreach activities. According to USDOT, “evaluators should measure not only the immediate outputs of public engagement efforts, but also the longer term outcomes that public engagement has on a project’s planning process.” Figure 5 summarizes the outputs and outcomes metrics developed by USDOT. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan – approved by Project Steering Committee on 9/11/2026 15 Figure 5: Public Outreach Success Metric Credit: USDOT Using this guidance, outreach success can be defined by the following categories: 1. Influence and Impact: Public feedback has an impact on decisions made throughout the Project and ensures that organizations are not just soliciting feedback from the public as part of a “checklist.” 2. Transparency and Clarity: Trust of government agencies has increased or improved as a result of the public involvement processes, and agencies were appropriately transparent about the Project. 3. Timing: Public involvement started early enough and was of sufficient length and frequency to be valuable. 4. Inclusion: Public involvement was inclusive and representative of all targeted and affected populations. 5. Targeted Engagement: Public involvement included locations relevant to the targeted and affected populations. 6. Accessibility: Public involvement activities used multiple methods for participation. The Project Team will use USDOT’s guidelines, as outlined above, to measure success at the completion of public engagement activities. The summary for each public engagement effort will include a synopsis of the identified metrics, as applicable. STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan 16 Appendix A - Project Schedule (Note: Project schedule is tentative and is subject to change throughout the duration of the Project.) Project Schedule Forest Home "Streets '27" 0 Milestone 1: Notice to Proceed/Project Kickoff 0.1 Project Initiation and Management Plan Project Kickoff Meeting 0.2 Steering Committee Support 0.3 Data and File Standards 1 1.1 Synthesis of Prior Plans & Policies 1.2 Regulatory & Historic District Pathway 2 2.1 Field Inventory and Constraints 2.2 Safety & Operational Baseline - Transportation 2.3 Connectivity & Accessibility Gaps Milestone 2: Existing Conditions Complete 3 3.1 Public and Stakeholder Engagement Plan Meet and Greet Walking Tour Stakeholder Interviews 3.2 Engagement Round 1: Issues & Opportunities Milestone 3: Engagement Round 1 Complete 3.3 Engagement Round 2: Concepts & Tradeoffs Milestone 4: Engagement Round 2 Complete 4 4.1 Forest Home Traffic Calming & Multimodal Toolbox 4.2 Concept-Level Designs for Priority Locations 4.3 Costs, Phasing & Funding Strategy Milestone 5: Draft Concepts Issued 5 5.1 Preferred Plan Milestone 6: Preferred Plan Issued 5.2 Monitoring & Performance Plan 6 6.1 Draft Plan Milestone 7: Draft Plan Issued for Review Milestone 8: Draft Plan Comment Period Closes 6.2 Final Plan & Executive Summary Town Board Final Presentation Milestone 9: Final Plan & Town Board Presentation Working Tasks Draft/Review Deliverable Final Deliverable Steering Committee Meetings Public Engagement Meetings Misc. Meetings Milestones DecNovOctSeptAugJulyJune Project Management, Governance & Standards Preferred Recommendations & Implementation Roadmap Concept Development & Evaluation Community Engagement Existing Conditions, Safety & Multimodal Analysis Prior Work, Regulatory & Historic Context Documentation & Final Deliverables 20272026 MayAprMarFebMayJanDecNovOctSeptAugJulyJune STREETS ‘27 Public & Stakeholder Engagement Plan 17 Appendix B – Rules of Conduct at Public Meetings and Rules for Public Comments TOWN OF ITHACA Rules of Conduct at Public Meetings and Rules for Public Comments Section 1 - Purpose and Scope: The Town of Ithaca’s Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals adopts this policy to outline the rules for public conduct and public comments at their meetings. Section 2 - Photographing, Recording and/or Broadcasting Public Portions of Uses: Any public portion of any Use may be photographed, recorded, and/or broadcast. Please see the Town’s Rules for Public Access and Uses of Town Meeting Rooms for more information. Section 3 - Conduct at a Public Meeting: Attendees must not disrupt the ability of any other attendees and the Board members to observe and listen to the proceedings or interfere with the ability of the Board members to deliberate on matters before them. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior may include, among other things, abusive or obscene language/gestures/images, the making of unreasonable noise, or threatening behavior. Except as specified in the next paragraph, the Presiding Officer will give one warning. If the behavior continues, the Presiding Officer may ask the individual to leave the premises (if the individual attends in person) or may have the individual disconnected from the meeting (if the individual attends virtually). If such individual is attending the meeting in person and refuses to leave, the Presiding Officer may ask the individual to be removed from the meeting room. For those using or displaying abusive or obscene language/gestures/images or engaging in threatening behavior, no warning is necessary before the Presiding Officer may ask the individual to leave the premises (if the individual attends in person) or has the individual disconnected from the meeting (if the individual attends virtually). Signs/banners of up to four (4) sq ft in size are permitted. To mitigate obstructing other attendees, they: 1. Must be kept below shoulder height when seated but are permitted higher if the holder is standing in the back of the room with no one behind them. 2.Can not be waved, shaken, or moved in such a way as to distract Board members, speakers or attendees; attendees must refrain from snapping fingers or using other distracting methods that attempt to draw attention to a sign or banner. Section 4 - Public Meetings of the Town – Persons to be Heard and Public Hearings: Not all public meetings have a “Persons to be Heard” or a “Public Hearing” agenda item. Public Hearings are a legal requirement associated with certain actions where the public has an opportunity to comment on the specific proposed action during that specific public hearing. Each action requiring a public hearing will have its own comment period. Comments must be made under the specified public hearing comment period. Persons to be Heard is a comment period for general comments not associated with actions that have a Public Hearing and are at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. 1. You may give your name and/or address, but it is not required because there may be security concerns for certain individuals about revealing such information, and nonresidents may own property in the Town, own or manage a business in the Town, or have other significant interests in the actions of the Town. All comments are welcome. There is no sign-up sheet; simply raise your hand in person or virtually and the Presiding Officer will call on you. 2. Public Hearings comments and Persons to be Heard comments may be limited to three (3 ) minutes per speaker at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Time cannot be transferred from one person to another to increase another’s time allotment. The Presiding Officer has discretion to determine whether persons who have already spoken during a Public Hearing or a Persons to be Heard comment period may speak more than once about the same agenda item or issue. 3. All comments should be made to the Board members and not to the applicants or other attendees. This is not a back-and-forth interaction. Answers to questions may not be given at that time but are heard by the Board members and may be addressed later at their discretion. In some instances, Board members may ask a clarifying question of a speaker. 4. “Applicants” include owners and any of their agents/associated representatives and are not considered “the public.” Applicants address the Members to give an overview and/or details of the project/action and are then available for questions from the Members before and after any associated Public Hearing and public comment period. Only Members may address Applicants. 5. All virtual attendees are muted upon entry and after speaking. The Chat function is disabled. To reduce screen clutter and distractions on the ZOOM application, the Clerk may turn off the video feed of any attendee after they have addressed the Members. To speak again under another Public Hearing or comment period, simply turn your video feed back on and raise your hand physically or through use of the hand-raised icon. 6.Where possible, meetings of the Town Board, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Appeals are broadcast live via YouTube.com @TownofithacaVideo for your convenience. Virtual attendees are encouraged to move to that platform after speaking if they wish to watch the rest of the meeting.