PRESENT: B. Blanchard, C. Evans, P. Penniman, T. Joseph, M. Lane
STAFF: J. Wood, County Attorney; W. Skinner, Public Information; L. Shurtleff, J. Miller, Fire, Disaster and EMS; J. Kazda, Engineering Division; J. Hanson, Planning Department
GUESTS: B. Wilbur, Ithaca City Fire Chief; L. Withiam, E911 Operations Committee; D. Kiefer, Board of Representatives; R. Seeley, Resident
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting opened at 2:04 p.m.
MEETING SCHEDULE
It was the consensus of the Committee to meet on fourth Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Scott Heyman Conference Room.
TOWERS PROJECT
Ms. Blanchard referenced a memorandum distributed by Bill Benjamin at the end of December outlining 1999 activities and goals for 2000. She stated a smaller working group has been formed to address specific tasks and issues in conjunction with the group's larger work. The main issue is how the project will be paid for. Mr. Joseph has agreed to convene the group that will consist of himself, Ms. Blanchard, Susan Brock of the Environmental Management Council, Joe Lalley from Cornell, Jack Miller and Lee Shurtleff from Fire and Disaster, Walter Groman representing the E911 Operations Committee, and Bill Benjamin from County Administration. Mr. Wood will also participate because he will be working on how to progress the project in relation to environmental review, etc, and Mr. Kazda and Mr. Stevenson from Dutch Hill will also be available to answer questions.
Mr. Wood stated he has a meeting scheduled with the consultant next week and hopes to have a clearer picture following that meeting. He stated he anticipates the consultant will recommend purchasing the sites and then bidding the equipment and towers. He stated using a Request for Proposals is also an option, but buying the property would be the most viable although it will have implications on environmental review.
Mr. Penniman stated that purchasing the sites would alleviate the problem of neighbors competing for siting of the towers.
Ms. Blanchard stated that a decision should be made on whether to proceed to the full board with a resolution of intent to move ahead with the project. Mr. Joseph stated that he would like to wait until more is known about what will be needed to make the project a reality before pursuing board approval. Mr. Benjamin stated that a placeholder has been put in the capital program for this project, but the board has not taken a firm step to move forward. He stated Mr. Miller has been moving forward with the 911-consolidation project under the presumption that the project is going to move forward. He stated the Committee should be on record with a firm proposal. Mr. Joseph stated he feels the capital program should be amended with a definite dollar amount, purchase the sites and not move forward with the RFP process. Mr. Benjamin stated by doing this it would empower the County to proceed based on the consultant's recommendations. Ms. Blanchard suggested adopting a resolution of commitment at the next committee meeting. Mr. Evans suggested accepting the consultant's plan for the implementation of the project.
Ms. Kiefer expressed concern over the analysis of tower heights stating she believed the analysis to be arbitrary. She stated she would like alternatives pursued. Ms. Blanchard stated that alternatives will be looked at. Mr. Joseph stated that the working group will define the project and the costs and once it is defined the resolution can be adopted.
Mr. Evans stated that the project proposes towers that are much higher than most municipal ordinances will allow and this needs to be resolved. Mr. Joseph stated he was not aware of that the County is proposing higher towers. Mr.
Miller stated that most towers are 180 feet, but and there is one in Groton that will need to have 100 additional feet added to it.
Mr. Penniman stated that he would like to see partners pursued to help bring the cost down. Mr. Miller stated that Cellular One has expressed interest in four sites if they are built by the end of 2000, but they intend to put up towers with or without the County.
It was the consensus of the Committee to have the working group begin their work and have that group bring a resolution back to the Committee for consideration.
LOSS OF FREQUENCIES
Mr. Wilbur that the city is losing one frequency and this has a direct bearing on firefighter safety and the ability to function with mutual aid companies. He stated that there is a continued degradation of paging capability and local companies are continually experiencing problems. Mr. Wilbur stated that the current system cannot be repaired to maintain the current level.
Mr. Miller stated that the frequency rules have been changed and the County has lost one of the frequencies it has been using since 1987. The State Department of Transportation has received permission from the federal level to use the frequency, so it was necessary for the County to switch to a different one. Mr. Miller stated that this same situation can happen again in the future.
Mr. Lane stated that part of this project has been the question of replacement radios for agencies and he would like a decision made on whether the project is going to pay for those radios or whether departments will have to figure this into the 2001 budgets. Mr. Wilbur stated the Operations Plan includes a discussion on this topic and he is waiting for the current radio inventory so a discussion can be held.
E911 CONSOLIDATION
Mr. Wilbur stated the Operations Plan is complete except for the radio inventory and the Plan has been sent to LaBella Associates. He stated the plan is a working document and will be updated as decisions are made.
Mr. Kazda stated he has received the first draft of the space program and the proposed layout for the dispatch center from LaBella. This is on file with the original minutes. Mr. Kazda stated that the drawings are for the entire building it was to be completed in full. If it was to be done in phases, the dispatch center would be completed first and the DOT garage later. Mr. Kazda stated there has been some conflict with the site plan, but this is a starting place. Ms. Blanchard stated a meeting will be held with DOT and 911 staff February 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Fire Coordinator's office to discuss the 911 and DOT programs and layout. She stated these plans should be an indicator that the County intends to move forward with this project.
MOU DISCUSSIONS
Ms. Blanchard reported that the Memorandum of Understanding discussion have been placed on hold until an issue with the Town of Dryden's sewer district is resolved. She stated that there have been discussions with the Town of Dryden about the site in reference to the sewer district and the County may wish to talk to Cornell about another site closer to the road to help the Town of Dryden with this issue. Mr. Lane stated a question was raised about the suitability of the soil at this site and the possibility of standing water. Mr. Kazda reported that the portion of the site being considered by the County isn't part of the wetlands map. Mr. Hanson stated that the Planning Department has soil maps of the area and he will contact Debra Grantham of the Town of Dryden to discuss onsite conditions.
OTHER
Ms. Kiefer stated that there have been questions about the tower heights for 911 affecting airplane paths and asked what the status of this situation is. Mr. Miller stated that preliminary work has been completed with the Federal Aviation Administration and now it needs to be determined where the building will sit, and where the tower sites will be within a one-mile radius. Mr. Hanson stated that there was also discussion about the transmission frequency interfering with the FAA. Mr. Miller stated there is an existing path that crosses the runway and it does not interfere, and the path with the construction of the dispatch center will not cross the runway.
Ms. Blanchard stated that a proposal needs to be prepared as soon as possible for Senators Kuhl and Seward and Assemblyman Luster to obtain state funding for the projects. She stated that they have indicated they would like it to be submitted by the end of this month. There was lengthy discussion on the way to most accurately project the costs of the projects. Mr. Benjamin stated that a dollar figure was placed in the COMCAP project elements and this can be used along with a notation that these figures are preliminary and will be changed. Mr. Hanson stated that Mr. Kazda prepared a good projection for capital projects and these were given out during the presentation given earlier to the state representatives. Ms. Blanchard and Mr. Benjamin will work on the proposal to submit by the end of the month.
Ms. Blanchard asked if there is any special money in public safety that could be used to help fund these projects. Mr. Miller stated there are none that he knows of except a member item. Mr. Withiam stated there may be some law enforcement funding available. Mr. Shurtleff stated there may also be funds available from the State Health Department and he will provide the necessary phone numbers for follow-up.
CISNET
Ms. Blanchard stated the Committee's responsibility was to make sure CISNET was moving forward smoothly and integrated into the projects. She stated that Mr. Withiam and Mr. Benjamin have met with all of the police agencies in the County and the District Attorneys office and this was a successful meeting because received the most current information on the system.
THIRD STREET DOT LOCATION
Ms. Blanchard stated that one positive aspect to owning the existing DOT site is that the DOT has decided to extend the sewer lines to the building.
Ms. Blanchard stated that contact should be made with Cortland County to keep them apprised of the situation with the DOT site in that County. Mr. Hanson stated discussion with Gordon Rimels of the State DOT indicated that Cortland County has been made aware of the state's plans and they support the decision. Mr. Hanson suggested having a Board member meet with the legislature to bring them up-to-date. Mr. Lane will set up a meeting with Cortland County.
Ms. Blanchard stated the Communication Capital Projects Team is working on a presentation on the current communications problems, the proposed solutions, and how the project will progress. She stated presentations will be made to each town to get information out about the project. This schedule is attached to the original minutes. Ms. Blanchard stated that once the bid document is assembled, it will be circulated for review and comment. Mr. Joseph asked if communications problems in each community will also be discussed and noted town and village highway departments could use the system. Ms. Blanchard stated that this will be part of the presentation. Mr. Evans asked if school districts have been contacted. Mr. Miller stated that they have and at this point the Town of Ithaca is the only town to express interest. He stated each town will be approached again. Mr. Joseph stated if the towns are interested in the system it may be possible to approach them for a partnership.
FEBRUARY MEETING AGENDA
The meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m. The next meeting will be held February 22, 2000, at 2:00 p.m. at the Scott Heyman Conference Room.
Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Luu, Administrative Assistant, Board of Representative’s office.