PRESENT: B. Blanchard, G. Totman, T. Joseph, M. Lane, J. Lalley, P. Penniman

STAFF: S. Whicher, County Administrator; J. Hanson (partly), M. Shakarjian, Planning Department; L. Shurtleff, J. Miller, Fire, Disaster and EMS; J. Wood, Deputy County Attorney; W.Skinner, Public Information Coordinator; U. Mukherjee, Administrative Services Coordinator

GUESTS: D. Kiefer, L. Withiam, E911 Operations Committee; T. Borman, M. Schnurle, Ithaca City Fire Department; K. Lansing, Cayuga Heights Police Department; G. Taber, Cornell Police; E. Inman, Supervisor, Town of Danby; M. Varvayanis, Supervisor, Town of Dryden; D. Higgins, Ithaca Journal; R. Seeley, County resident  

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting opened at 12:02 p.m.

ADDITIONS TO/DELETIONS FROM AGENDA

Ms. Shakarjian announced that the deadline for application for the Cops More Program, a Federal grant program for funding purchase of information technology systems for Law Enforcement, is drawing near.

Ms. Blanchard made a brief reference to the Intermunicipal Planning Meeting of February 23. She said the report in the Ithaca Journal summarized the proceedings accurately. 

APPROVAL OF PAST MINUTES OF MEETING

It was Moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Penniman and unanimously adopted by voice vote of members present to approve the February 6, 2001 minutes.

COMMUNICATIONS/DISPATCH CENTER SITE SELECTION

Mr. Shurtleff distributed a report on Tompkins County Communications Center – Site Location. He traced the events leading up to the decision to have a consolidated communications/dispatch center. Several locations were considered including the proposed D. O. T. site on Hanshaw Road. It was noted that the South Hill Fire Station site had a tower next to it which could be utilized for transmission. The E-911 Committee spoke to the Town of Ithaca and Ithaca College and both responded positively. All sites were ranked in terms of desirability. He referred to the summary sheet on Evaluation of Potential Sites and requested the members to correct the Unweighted Score Total for the site adjacent to South Hill Fire Station #5 as 84 in place of 74. There was also a possibility to co-locate the Communications Center with a planned Ithaca College campus facility. He then referred to Financial Analysis Draft v2.1 giving details of various estimated costs for each of the proposed sites. The square-footage requirements being different for the different sites, the numbers were compared with the original La Bella design to arrive at those which the E-911 Committee felt were required. Accordingly, another draft Financial Analysis v2.2 was drawn up in an attempt to standardize to a level playing field in creating the same amount of needed space and considering shared facilities. He referred to the sheets on Site Analysis – Program Space in this connection. A discussion with Ithaca College revealed that the site would be fully utilized and there might be no room left for future expansion. He said the estimated square footage costs for the different areas for renovation/new construction were provided by County Engineering in association with architects and incorporated by Mr. Wilbur. It was pointed out by a member that the construction cost for the same area appeared to vary depending on who made the estimate.

There was a brief discussion on the feasibility of the CFR site. Mr. Joseph felt the construction cost for the CFR site would be less than what Mr. Kazda has projected. Ms. Blanchard referred to the possibility of having to reimburse the Federal Aviation Administration for using airport space in a manner that is not aviation oriented. She also suggested that the members, along with Mr. Whicher, analyze the various options as a working group and asked the members if they were ready to eliminate any of the options. The members felt that the Campus Safety Building site had serious operational problems and should be eliminated from the list.

It was Moved by Mr. Lalley, seconded by Mr. Lane and unanimously adopted by voice vote of members present to eliminate the site at South Hill adjacent to the Ithaca College Campus Safety Building from the list of options for locating the proposed Communications/Dispatch Center.

A brief discussion followed on the feasibility of assigning weights to the scores. Mr. Lane was in favor of eliminating the site adjacent to South Hill Fire Station #5 because, in his view, it is vulnerable to emergencies that could result in closing of Route 96. He felt the site chosen should be in proximity to Route 13. However, in view of its many advantages as a command center, the group decided to leave the option open. Next the group deliberated on eliminating the Public Safety Building sites as options. However, Mr. Joseph was of the view that the obstacles have been overblown. He emphasized that there are real advantages in the opportunity for joint use of conference rooms, parking etc. in addition to the operational advantages of a command center in the same location. He also questioned the various cost figures associated with the site such as those for site development, additional tower, building operating. At this point Ms. Blanchard requested Mr. Whicher to review the costs in association with Mr. Wilbur. Mr. Penniman pointed out the importance of evaluating the hazards associated with a site such as transportation of hazardous material, potential for a jail breakout. Ms. Blanchard requested the members to compile a list of their questions/concerns for review by the group.   

D.O.T. PROJECT

Mr. Wood said a meeting has been set up with Cornell Real Estate and the terms of an agreement for acquisition of an option on Hanshaw Road for DOT relocation are expected to be finalized today.

NYSTEC PUBLIC PRESENTATION ON FEBRUARY 23

Ms. Blanchard commended Ms. Shakarjian for her presentation. She said the crowd was not large but excellent questions were posed following the NYSTEC Presentation.

SEQR – DRAFT SCOPE

Ms. Shakarjian said that all related materials have been sent out to the recipients of the mailing list along with a letter from the County Administrator. The Draft Scope has also been put up on the Web.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Lalley said he has just got a decibel report on a propagation study for 800 MHz held on February 15 at Cornell and felt that the penetration issues can be addressed.
  
ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:25 p.m.