PRESENT: B. Blanchard, P. Penniman, M. Robertson, R. Booth
ABSENT: G. Totman
STAFF: S. Whicher, County Administrator; L. Shurtleff, Director, Emergency Response; J. Wood, County Attorney; W. Skinner, Public Information Coordinator; N. Jayne, Executive Assistant, E Marx, K Borgella
GUESTS: Chief Ken Lansing, John Hill, Varna Fire Department, Dooley Kiefer, D. McDonald

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting opened at 11:32 a.m. 

ADDITIONS TO/DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA
None 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 25, 2002
It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Penniman, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the June 25, 2002 minutes with the recommended changes.

Chairs Report/DOT Relocation     B Blanchard, E Marx, D. McDonald, K Borgella
Ms. Blanchard gave a brief history of this project. It began in July 1997, with Stu Stein, then County Board chair, talking with Herman Sieverding, then on the City Planning staff, and pointing out the value of the DoT site on the waterfront and suggesting it could be put to better community use. Since then we have been through three different DoT regional directors, and this has been discussed with all of them. Finally, on Dec. 19, 2000, the Board of Representatives passed a resolution supporting the relocation. Ms. Blanchard said that $3.0 million is available from NY State this year through Senator Seward’s efforts plus at least $700,000 from NYS DOT.  The planning department has developed a plan to carry out the project with a Local Development Corporation (LDC) established and given the responsibility to oversee the project.  The City of Ithaca has a contract with the National Development Council (NDC), which acts as the City’s technical advisor on complicated economic development projects. The local NDC contact is Kevin McLaughlin.  The NDC can assist the county and the city in establishing the not-for-profit LDC model and refine the budget. The NDC would also have their architectural associates scope out the building and refine the budget to arrive at a guaranteed maximum price.   The redevelopment of the Third Street site would most likely be accomplished through a RFP process to choose a developer that will bring the most to the local economy. 

The DOT will not be the developer of the new facility; they are looking for a turnkey solution. DoT may be interested in a long-term lease, which might cost DoT more in the long run, but would require less money upfront. The Local Development Corporation could take the lead on planning and construction.  NDC will provide guidance on this. The new facility construction will require no local share as it is to be funded by the Seward funds, the sale of the property and the DOT funding.  A resolution will be developed and put to vote before the next board meeting to create a capital project with no local share and to authorize the appraisal of the site.  Ms. Smithers will need to bring it to the budget committee.  Appraisals need to be obtained for the Dryden site including site configurations - Mr. Wood will call Martha Armstrong at TCAD to set up the site visit. D. Kiefer asked if it is possible to have the LDC build the DoT site quickly and Tompkins County take title to the old site, and then lease rather than sell that site to a developer. B. Blanchard said yes, at this point anything is possible. R. Booth asked why have the county take title; why not just turn the land over to the City, since they have lots of development expertise and would do a good job. B. Blanchard noted that is not a widely shared view. M. Robertson asked if that site would need a toxicity study. R. Booth said he has heard that Third Street site has structural soil problems.

Update on Paging Project, United Radio Contract Extension         M Shakarjian
Received the propagation maps in GIS format from United Radio. The frequency application has been forwarded to the FCC.  A resolution will be developed for the next committee meeting to enter into an agreement with United Radio for the paging project. 

911 Building Project Status         S. Whicher 
Lansing has preliminarily approved the site for building.  When Ms. Shakarjian obtains drainage documentation she will make a presentation to the Village planning committee.  The proposed project schedule reflects a significant time delay. The permits required are an agreement with the village, a permit from DEC and FAA.  The contract with the architect is being sent out July 23, 2002.  Mr. Whicher will work on accelerating the timeline. 

The Village of Lansing is aware of the potential tower site.  The FAA regulations are 150 feet so the solution is a 125 ft tower next to the 911 building.  The Village’s zoning ordinance requires a fall zone so Tompkins County will provide documentation that the tower will collapse and therefore should not be subject to the fall zone ordinance. 

Tony Egner and Motorola met to discuss the equipment in the new facility. Interested equipment vendors will receive a sketch to assure the equipment will fit the design. 

PSCS RFP Status Report      S. Whicher
MACOM wants an extension because they don’t think they can give us the best price prior to the SWN opening.  If MACOM wins the bid with SWN then the local governments would be able to get the state price.  Their design is confidential and not to be shared with outside vendors. The committee agrees that Tompkins County will not extend the RFP deadline, but Mr. Wood has written a proposal to address their confidentiality issues. 

Mr. Whicher is confident that the state will continue to make suggestions and recommendations to prevent Tompkins County from building a non-integrated system with the SWN.  He met with Hanford Thomas in Albany and received a verbal commitment that Tompkins County will have a full partnership.  Tompkins County is now in receipt of a letter on the possibility of sharing frequencies.  Mr. Whicher discussed the possibility of expanding the collaboration to include paging and incorporating the NYS Regional Dispatch in the Tompkins County Consolidated Dispatch Center. 

To Do:
Provide tower documentation to the Village of Lansing and information on drainage mitigation.
Mikel Shakarjian will develop a resolution to enter into a contract with United Radio for the paging project.
Jonathan Wood will contact Martha Armstrong to set up a visit to the proposed DOT site.
A resolution creating the capital project for the DOT Relocation will be prepared. Committee will meet at 4:00 prior to the Board meeting on the 6th. 

New Business
No new business. 

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 1:12 p.m.
 

Submitted by Norma Jayne