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City of Ithaca, NY
Tompkins County
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This Charter and all amendments hereto shall constitute the form of government for the City of Ithaca and shall be known and cited as the "Ithaca City Charter."
[Amended 2-24-1987 by L.L. No. 2-1987]
All that part of the County of Tompkins comprised within the following boundaries, namely commencing at the southwest corner of DeWitt's location, so called, being the 1,400 acres conveyed to him by Abraham Bloodgood by deed dated December 1, 1792; thence due east along the south line of said location for a distance of 1,775 feet, more or less, to the center line of the right-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, formerly the right-of-way of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, where said right-of-way adjoins and runs parallel with the right-of-way of the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company; thence southwesterly along the center line of said right-of-way to its intersection with the center line of Cayuga Inlet; thence easterly, southerly and westerly along the center line of said Cayuga Inlet to its intersection with the center line of said right-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, formerly the right-of-way of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company; thence along the center line of said railroad right-of-way, on a curve to the left, and continuing along said center line in a northeasterly direction to its intersection with the south line of DeWitt's location; thence due east along the south line of DeWitt's location and its extension to a point in the east line of South Aurora Street (known in the Town of Ithaca as "Danby Road"); thence southerly along said east line of Danby Road 540 feet, more or less, to a point on the extension northwesterly of the east line of 133 Coddington Road; thence southeasterly along said line of 113 Coddington Road and its extension a distance of 360 feet, more or less, to a point on the southerly line of Coddington Road, said point being also on the easterly line of the Ithaca College property; thence southeasterly along said Ithaca College east line a distance of 650 feet, more or less, to a point; thence easterly a distance of 630 feet, more or less, to a point on the line dividing lands now or formerly of Centini-Capalongo on the west from lands now or formerly of Gridley on the east, said point being also 550 feet, more or less, southerly along said dividing line from the south line of Coddington Road; thence northeasterly a distance of 595 feet, more or less, to a point on the east line of Coddington Road, said point being also on the extension southerly of the east line of 725 Hudson Street; thence northerly along said east line of 725 Hudson Street 145 feet, more or less, to a point on the south line of Pennsylvania Avenue; thence northerly 550 feet, more or less, to a point on the easterly extension of the south line of the DeWitt's location property, being also located 155 feet easterly, more or less, from the east line of Hudson Street, measured along the aforesaid south line; thence due east along the prolongation of the south line of DeWitt's location to a point 3,452 feet east of the east line of Military Lot 94; thence running northeasterly and along the center of the ravine to the southwest line of the right-of-way formerly of the E. C. & N. Railroad; thence northwesterly and along the southwest line of the E. C. & N. Railroad right-of-way 260 feet to the south line of lands of Cornell University; thence west and along the south line of lands of Cornell University and S. William Barnes a distance of about 1,050 feet to a point which is approximately 960 feet north of the southeast corner of the municipality of the City of Ithaca and 3,452 feet east of the east line of Military Lot 94; thence due north parallel with said east line of Lot 94 to the north line of Military Lot 92; thence west along the north lines of Lots 92 and 94 and these lines produced to the east boundary of North Cayuga Street; thence northerly along the east line of said North Cayuga Street produced to a point at the north boundary line of New York State Route 13; running thence northeasterly along the northerly line of Route 13 a distance of 106 feet, more or less, to a point; thence continuing along the northwesterly line of New York State Route 13 the following distances: northeasterly a distance of 195 feet, more or less, to a point; northeasterly a distance of 253 feet, more or less, to a point; northerly a distance of 67 feet, more or less, to a point; easterly a distance of 15 feet, more or less, to a point in the westerly line of East Shore Drive; running thence northerly along the westerly line of East Shore Drive a distance of 165 feet, more or less, to the southerly line of lands now or formerly of Bowman (Deeds Book 585, Page 594) (Tax Parcel No. 18-2-10); running thence westerly, along the southerly boundary of said Bowman parcel a distance of 264 feet, more or less, to the southwest corner thereof; running thence northerly along the west boundary of said Bowman parcel and continuing along the west boundary of lands now or formerly of Wells (Deeds Book 379, Page 410, and Book 466, Page 23) a total distance of 80 feet, more or less, to the easterly line of Conrail Corp. (R.O.), formerly Lehigh Valley Railroad; running thence southwesterly along the southeasterly line of Conrail a distance of 70 feet, more or less, to the present east line of the City of Ithaca, said point being on extension of the east street line of former North Cayuga Street; thence northerly 1,060 feet, more or less, along a line to a point which is 130 feet, more or less, westerly from the east line of said railroad right-of-way, which said point is on the present north line of the City of Ithaca; thence west along said present north line of the City of Ithaca across Cayuga Lake to the west shore of Cayuga Lake; thence southerly a distance of 1,710 feet, more or less, to the mouth of the brook which divides the property now owned by Harry and Helen D. Johnson on the north from the property of Candace H. Williams on the south; thence westerly 140 feet, more or less, up the center of the brook to the east boundary of the right-of-way of the highway known as "Taughannock Boulevard"; thence southerly along the east line of the right-of-way of Taughannock Boulevard as it now exists or may hereafter be relocated a distance of 1,523 feet to the center of Williams Brook; thence westerly 66 feet, more or less, to the east line of the right-of-way of the Ithaca and Geneva division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad; thence southerly 1,100 feet, more or less, to the north line of said Lots 92 and 94 produced; thence west along the north line of said Lots 92 and 94 as produced to a point where said line intersects the northeasterly line of Brookfield Road; thence northwesterly along the northeasterly line of Brookfield Road about 168.6 feet to an iron pipe marking the intersection of the westerly line of Campbell Avenue and the northeasterly line of Brookfield Road; thence north 15 degrees 15 minutes east, 115.2 feet along the westerly line of Campbell Avenue to an iron pipe; thence southwesterly substantially along a hedgerow about 177 feet to an iron pipe located north 79 degrees 25 minutes east, a distance of 35.5 feet from an iron pipe set in the northeasterly line of Brookfield Road; thence north 12 degrees 21 minutes west, 187 feet to an iron pipe; thence south 70 degrees 28 minutes west, 17.9 feet to a pipe; thence north 23 degrees 40 minutes west, 150.6 feet to an iron pipe set in the bed of Hopkins Place; thence continuing a short distance of approximately 10 feet to the original center line of Hopkins Place measured as a 40-foot road; thence westerly along said original center line of Hopkins Place about 60 feet to a point south 3 degrees 30 minutes east of an iron pipe set in the northerly line of Hopkins Place; thence north 3 degrees 30 minutes west, 20 feet, more or less, to said iron pipe in the northerly line of Hopkins Place; thence north 3 degrees 30 minutes west, 223 feet to the center of Williams Brook; thence southwesterly along the center of Williams Brook 330 feet, more or less, to the west line of Military Lot No. 87; thence south along the west line of said Lot 87 and the west line of said DeWitt's location to the place of beginning, shall constitute the City of Ithaca.
[Amended 8-5-1981 by L.L. No. 4-1981; 2-24-1987 by L.L. No. 2-1987; 6-3-1992 by L.L. No. 2-1992[2]; 9-4-2002 by L.L. No. 4-2002; 8-1-2012 by L.L. No. 2-2012]
The City shall be divided into five wards respectfully bounded and described as follows:
A. 
Ward I: Beginning at a monument marking the former southwest corner of the corporate limits of the City of Ithaca, also known as the southwest corner of "DeWitt location," located approximately 315 feet west of the center line of Floral Avenue, on the corporate limits; thence running easterly along the south line of the corporate limits a distance of 1,728 feet, to a point on the City of Ithaca corporate limits; thence along the western and southern corporate limits a distance of 16,730 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of South Aurora Street; thence easterly along the southern corporate limits of the City of Ithaca a distance of 8,023 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of East State Street and the southern corporate limits of the City of Ithaca; thence northwesterly along the center line of East State Street a distance of 5,963 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East Green Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of East Green Street a distance of 518 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of South Aurora Street; thence southeasterly along the center line of South Aurora Street a distance of 69 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the southern line of Six Mile Creek; thence southwesterly along the southern creek line of Six Mile Creek a distance of 1,066 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of East Clinton Street and the southern creek line of Six Mile Creek; thence westerly along the center line of East Clinton Street a distance of 23 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the northern creek line of Six Mile Creek; thence southwesterly along the northern creek line of Six Mile Creek a distance of 559 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the northern creek line of Six Mile Creek and the center line of South Cayuga Street; thence southerly across Six Mile Creek along the center line of South Cayuga Street a distance of 276 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West Spencer Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of West Spencer Street a distance of 1,344 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of South Albany Street extended and the center line of Elmira Road; thence southwesterly along the center line of Elmira Road a distance of 2,201 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of South Meadow Street, also known as New York State Route 13 and Elmira Road; thence northerly along the center line of South Meadow Street a distance of 3,964 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West State Street; thence northerly along the center line of North Meadow Street a distance of 2,110 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Hancock Street; thence northeasterly along the center line of North Meadow Street, also known as New York State Route 13 North, a distance of 2,445 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Cascadilla Creek; thence westerly along the center line of Cascadilla Creek to a point of intersection with the center line of the Cayuga Inlet a distance of 1,877 feet, more or less; thence northerly along the center line of Cayuga Inlet, and as extended, to the north line of the City of Ithaca a distance of 5,523 feet, more or less; thence westerly along the north line of the City of Ithaca a distance of 3,420 feet, more or less, to a point on the west shore of Cayuga Lake; thence southeasterly along the line of the corporate limits of the City of Ithaca as it twists and turns a distance of 4,613 feet, more or less; thence westerly along the City of Ithaca corporate limits a distance of 2,587 feet, more or less; thence southwesterly along the City of Ithaca corporate limits, which is also the center line of Williams Brook, a distance of 331 feet, more or less; thence southerly along the western line of the corporate limits of the City of Ithaca a distance of 9,800 feet, more or less, to the point and place of beginning.
B. 
Ward II: Beginning at a point of intersection of the center line of East Green Street and the center line of East State Street; thence running southwesterly along the center line of East Green Street a distance of 518 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of South Aurora Street; thence southeasterly along the center line of South Aurora Street a distance of 69 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the southern creek line of Six Mile Creek; thence southwesterly along the southern creek line of Six Mile Creek a distance of 1,066 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of East Clinton Street and the southern creek line of Six Mile Creek; thence westerly along the center line of East Clinton Street a distance of 23 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the northern creek line of Six Mile Creek; thence southwesterly along the northern creek line of Six Mile Creek a distance of 559 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the northern creek line and the center line of South Cayuga Street; thence southerly across the creek along the center line of South Cayuga Street a distance of 276 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West Spencer Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of West Spencer Street a distance of 1,344 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of South Albany Street extended and the center line of Elmira Road; thence southwesterly along the center line of Elmira Road a distance of 2,201 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center line of South Meadow Street, also known as New York State Route 13 and Elmira Road; thence northerly along the center line of South Meadow Street a distance of 3,964 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West State Street; thence along the center line of North Meadow Street a distance of 2,110 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Hancock Street; thence northeasterly along the center line of North Meadow Street, also known as New York State Route 13 North, a distance of 2,432 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the west line of Cascadilla Creek; thence southeasterly along the west line of Cascadilla Creek a distance of 2,609 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the south line of Cascadilla Creek and North Cayuga Street; thence northerly along the center line of North Cayuga Street a distance of 111 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Farm Street; thence easterly along the center line of Farm Street a distance of 1,239 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Linn Street; thence southerly along the center line of Linn Street a distance of 863 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Terrace Place; thence easterly and southerly along the center line of Terrace Place a distance of 497 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East Buffalo Street; thence easterly along the center line of East Buffalo Street a distance of 45 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Parker Street; thence southerly a distance of 329 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East Seneca Street; thence westerly along the center line of East Seneca Street a distance of 326 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Seneca Way; thence southeasterly along Seneca Way a distance of 664 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East State Street, the point of beginning.
C. 
Ward III: Beginning at a point in the south corporate limits of the City of Ithaca at its intersection with the center line of East State Street; thence running easterly along the south corporate limits of the City of Ithaca a distance of 260 feet, more or less, to a monument marking the southeast corner in the corporate limits of the City of Ithaca; thence northerly along the east line of the City of Ithaca a distance of 11,274 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the north line of the City of Ithaca corporate limits, a point 259 feet due north of the intersection of the eastern City limits and the center line of the road known as Sisson Place Extension, a road on the Cornell University campus; thence westerly along the north boundary of the City of Ithaca a distance of 1,680 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Triphammer Road; thence southerly and southwesterly along the center line of Triphammer Road a distance of 798 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Wait Avenue; thence southeasterly and southwesterly along the center line of Wait Avenue a distance of 621 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center lines of Thurston Avenue and Risley Drive; thence southerly along the center line of Thurston Avenue a distance of 760 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center lines of Forest Home Drive and University Avenue; thence westerly and southwesterly along the center line of University Avenue a distance of 1,924 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center lines of McGraw Place and West Avenue; thence southerly and southeasterly along the center line of West Avenue a distance of 1,212 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Campus Road; thence southeasterly along the center line of Campus Road a distance of 800 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Central Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Central Avenue a distance of 960 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Oak Avenue; thence easterly along the center line of Oak Avenue a distance of 569 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Summit Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Summit Avenue extended a distance of 409 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Dryden Road; thence westerly along the center line of Dryden Road a distance of 325 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Linden Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Linden Avenue a distance of 838 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Bool Street; thence westerly along the center line of Bool Street a distance of 267 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of College Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of College Avenue a distance of 614 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Mitchell Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of Mitchell Street a distance of 306 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East State Street; thence southeasterly along the center line of East State Street a distance of 3,026 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Woodcrest Avenue; thence, running southeasterly a distance of 668 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the City of Ithaca corporate limits, the point and place of beginning.
D. 
Ward IV: Beginning at a point on the center line of Cascadilla Creek at the point of intersection with the center line of Stewart Avenue; thence running northeasterly along the center line of Stewart Avenue a distance of 1,943 feet, more or less, to a point on the center line of Stewart Avenue; thence northeasterly along the northwest face of Carl Becker House, a building on Cornell University campus, a distance of 330 feet, more or less, to the northeast corner of Carl Becker House; thence southeasterly along the westernmost edge of the access road located east of Carl Becker House a distance of 294 feet, more or less, to a point; thence easterly along a line which is also the north face of Mennen Hall a distance of 222 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of West Avenue a distance of 680 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Campus Road; thence southeasterly along the center line of Campus Road a distance of 800 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Central Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Central Avenue a distance of 960 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Oak Avenue; thence easterly along the center line of Oak Avenue a distance of 569 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Summit Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Summit Avenue extended a distance of 409 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Dryden Road; thence westerly along the center line of Dryden Road a distance of 325 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Linden Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of Linden Avenue a distance of 838 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Bool Street; thence westerly along the center line of Bool Street a distance of 267 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of College Avenue; thence southerly along the center line of College Avenue a distance of 614 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Mitchell Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of Mitchell Street a distance of 306 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East State Street; thence northwesterly along the center line of East State Street a distance of 2,275 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Seneca Way; thence northwesterly along the center line of Seneca Way a distance of 664 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East Seneca Street; thence easterly along the center line of East Seneca Street a distance of 326 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Parker Street; thence northerly along the center line of Parker Street a distance of 329 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of East Buffalo Street; thence westerly along the center line of East Buffalo Street a distance of 45 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Terrace Place; thence northerly and westerly along the center line of Terrace Place a distance of 497 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Linn Street; thence northerly along the center line of Linn Street a distance of 191 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Cascadilla Creek; thence easterly along the center line of Cascadilla Creek a distance of 1,490 feet, more or less, to a point in the center line of Stewart Avenue to the point of beginning.
E. 
Ward V: Beginning at a point of intersection of the center lines of Linn Street, University Avenue, and Cascadilla Creek; thence running easterly along the center line of Cascadilla Creek a distance of 1,490 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Stewart Ave; thence northerly along the center line of Stewart Avenue a distance of 1,943 feet; thence northeasterly along the northwest face of Carl Becker House, a building on Cornell University campus, a distance of 330 feet, more or less, to the northeast corner of the Carl Becker House; thence southeasterly along the westernmost edge of the access road located east of Carl Becker House a distance of 294 feet, more or less to a point; thence easterly along a line which is also the north face of Mennen Hall a distance of 222 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of West Avenue; thence northerly along the center line of West Avenue a distance of 530 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center lines of University Avenue and McGraw Place; thence northerly and easterly along the center line of University Avenue a distance of 1,924 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Thurston Avenue; thence northerly along the center line of Thurston Avenue a distance of 760 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the center lines of Wait Avenue and Risley Drive; thence northeasterly and northwesterly along the center line of Wait Avenue a distance of 621 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Triphammer Road; thence northeasterly and northerly along the center line of Triphammer Road a distance of 798 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the north boundary of the City of Ithaca; thence westerly along the north line of the City of Ithaca and its extension westerly to a point of intersection with the east line of North Cayuga Street; thence northerly along the corporate limit of the City of Ithaca a distance of 4,705 feet, more or less to the northeast corner of the corporate limits of the City of Ithaca; thence westerly along the north line of the City of Ithaca to a point on said north line, which said point is on a line directly due north of the center line of the Cayuga Inlet; thence southerly along the center line of the Cayuga Inlet, as extended, and along the actual center line of the Cayuga Inlet to a point of intersection with the center lines of Cascadilla Creek and North Meadow Street; thence southwesterly along the center line of North Meadow Street a distance of 13 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the west line of Cascadilla Creek; thence southeasterly along the west line of Cascadilla Creek a distance of 2,609 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection of the south line of Cascadilla Creek and the center line of North Cayuga Street; thence northerly along the center line of North Cayuga Street a distance of 111 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Farm Street; thence easterly along the center line of Farm Street a distance of 1,239 feet, more or less, to a point of intersection with the center line of Linn Street; thence southerly along the center line of Linn Street a distance of 707 feet, more or less, to the point of beginning.
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 1.3A, which established the ward boundaries effective through 12-31-1985, was deleted 8-5-1992 by L.L. No. 3-1992. Local Law No. 7-1996, adopted 8-7-1996, ratified this § C-3, as last amended by L.L. No. 2-1992. Said L.L. No. 7-1996 passed at referendum on 11-5-1996.
[2]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided that it take effect on January 1, 1993, after filing in the office of the Secretary of State, provided that the current alderpersons shall continue to hold office and represent the prior existing wards through December 31, 1993, and further provided that the ward boundaries as existing immediately prior to the effective date of the local law shall continue to be the ward boundaries for the purpose of filling vacancies in office until the general election in November 1993.
The citizens of this state, from time to time inhabitants within the aforesaid limits, shall be a corporation under the name and style of the "City of Ithaca" and in that name may sue and be sued, complain and defend in any court, make and use a common Seal and alter it at pleasure and may receive, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or purchase, and hold and convey such real or personal estate, either within or without the City limits, as the purposes of the corporation may require. All the real estate and personal property now owned or possessed by or held in the name of or in trust for the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Ithaca are hereby vested in the City of Ithaca, with power to hold or convey the same as the purposes of said corporation may require.