PRESENT: B. Blanchard, T. Joseph, P. Penniman, C. Evans
STAFF: L. Shurtleff, J. Miller, Fire, Disaster and EMS; B. Benjamin, Deputy County Administrator; J. Hanson, Planning Commissioner; J. Kazda, Engineering
GUESTS: D. Kiefer, Board of Representatives
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting opened at 2:00 p.m.
UPDATE ON COMCAP "TO DO" ITEMS
Ms. Blanchard stated that the timeline will be deferred. Mr. Kazda is still working on this and it should be available shortly. She stated that Mr. Hanson will be putting together a information packet so everyone has the same basic pieces. It will include a brief summary, a contact roster, and the goals of each project.
Ms. Blanchard distributed a revised "to do" list. She stated that with the County’s budget process it is hoped that good numbers will be placed on each project by budget time.
A second draft of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County, City and the Town of Dryden, Cornell and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) was distributed to each party except the NYSDOT. Ms. Blanchard stated that once the content is agreed upon between the County, City and the Town of Dryden discussions will be held with the NYSDOT.
PROJECT STATUS
E911 CONSOLIDATION
Mr. Joseph asked if the E911 consolidation includes staffing. Mr. Shurtleff indicated that it is hoped that current staff will be used and no additional staff will be needed. Mr. Joseph stated that if staff is moved out of the Sheriff’s Department he would like to know what the staffing implications will be for that department. Mr. Shurtleff stated that this is still being pursued, and discussions are also underway with the Ithaca City Police Department on what functions they will be moving.
Mr. Miller stated that the consolidation is based on past statistics and it is not clear if the number of calls will increase when the consolidation takes place. He stated that the Sheriff and the City will have to evaluate what the impact will be to each of their departments. He stated that these same discussions are also taking place with the State Police.
Mr. Miller stated that discussions are also being held on what will need to happen with the dispatch equipment, noting some of the existing equipment needs repair. He stated once the formal plan is in place it will be easier to evaluate.
TOWER/800 MHZ TRUNKING
Mr. Miller stated that the consultant’s contract has been awarded to Dutch Hill and they will be meeting with the subcommittees to go over their findings. Mr. Hanson has information about the SEQR process relative to lead agency status.
Mr. Hanson indicated that for the present DOT property on Third Street the County should be the lead agency since the County is the principle entity involved. Mr. McEwen of the NYSDOT has indicated he would like the Town of Dryden to be lead agency for the Hanshaw Road property. This is consistent with NYSDOT past practices. The County will be the lead agency for the Towers Project because this will involve projects owned by the County.
Mr. Penniman asked what happens if the ownership varies between, County, private and municipal entities. Mr. Hanson stated that this will need to be clarified with each municipality.
Mr. Lane stated the Town of Dryden has applications for two or three towers and there have been discussions about the possibility of coordinating their tower sites with the County and the Town believes this is workable.
Mr. Joseph stated that the propagation study will help determine sties for tower locations.
Ms. Blanchard stated that one problem may be the differences in contact points. She stated that Dutch Hill Consultants will be looking into this. Mr. Joseph asked if it is possible to design a system that would be useful to both entities. Mr. Miller indicated this could be difficult because of differing needs. He stated that changing technology also makes this difficult because it would require the municipality to use the same equipment as the County.
Mr. Miller stated that more sites are going to be needed for cell services because wavelengths are shorter. Ms. Blanchard asked if the County has a tower site and a company wants to be in the same vicinity if the County can make them use the County tower. Mr. Joseph stated that the Town can make them locate to the County’s tower if it fits their needs.
Ms. Blanchard stated that radio replacement will be discussed at a future meeting.
DOT RELOCATION
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been drafted to determine who will be responsible for what part of the project and include a withdrawal mechanism. Mr. Lane stated the project is going to be contingent on funding being in place. The MOU is between Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, the Town of Dryden, the New York State Department of Transportation and Cornell. It provides for Cornell to transfer the land, and the County to provide the site work. It will also indicate the responsible party for remediation if there is a problem with the testing and when the project can be discontinued if it doesn’t receive funding. He stated that the property is 15 acres and it is going to be suggested that Tompkins County own the land and provide a long-term lease to NYSDOT. Dryden will form a sewer and water district to provide services requested by NYSDOT, and enhance economic development.
Mr. Lane indicated that the Town of Dryden has passed a resolution for a plan to be completed on their water and sewer district subject to permissive referendum. He stated that they will be proceeding with the planning phase of the design.
APPRAISAL
Ms. Blanchard stated that it is necessary to determine what the highest use of the existing DOT property will be, as well as obtain an expert opinion from development groups on the potential of the property. She stated the City indicated that it would like to see the property used for commercial development, become taxable, as well as become a source of other revenues.
Mr. Joseph asked why an appraisal is necessary. Ms. Blanchard stated that the property has a distorted value by the County’s tax department and an appraisal would provide a more accurate figure. Mr. Hanson stated that the Assessment Department applied an artificial value to the property because we receive no tax benefit from it, and NYSDOT has requested the County establish the properties value.
It was Moved by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr. Evans and unanimously adopted by voice vote to have Mr. Hanson and Mr. Kazda prepare a proposal for the appraisal at a cost not to exceed $3,500.
Mr. Evans stated that he
would also like the environmental concerns addressed. Mr. Kazda stated
that Phase I of the Environmental Assessment Form on the Hanshaw Road Property
and the Waterfront property needs to be started. It
was Moved by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Evans and unanimously
adopted by voice vote to acquire a Environmental Assessment for both sites.
DOT BULDING SPECIFICATIONS
Mr. Kazda stated that he will be receiving the building specifications electronically.
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING BUILDING ASSISTANCE TO INCORPORATE THE PIECES OF THE PLAN FOR HANSHAW ROAD
Mr. Kazda stated that County will need to start looking at the schematic design phase in about five weeks. He stated that the County has already contacted LaBella Associates to do the work and an addendum can be added to their contract.
Mr. Kazda stated that the layout of how the NYSDOT and the 911 Center has been discussed and the County Administrator is working with the County’s Highway Manager regarding staffing needs of the County Public Works Department outpost.
REVIEW OF GOALS
The goals for each project were discussed. These are attached to the original minutes.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m. The next meeting will be held July 27, 1999, at 2:00 p.m. in the Scott Heyman Conference Room.
Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Luu, Administrative Assistant, Board of Representative’s office.