Planning, Development &
Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County Legislature
Special Meeting
January 2, 2007 4:45 PM Courthouse Conference Room
Members Present: Martha Robertson (Chair), Jim Dennis, Frank Proto, Tyke
Randall
Member Excused: Kathy Luz Herrera
Staff: Ed
Marx, Commissioner of Planning & PW
Kathy
Wilsea, TCPD
Visitors: Martha
Armstrong, Tompkins County Area Development
Charlie
Trautmann, Sciencenter
Stu
Stein, STPB
The meeting was called to order at 4:45 PM by the
Chair, Martha Robertson, with members Jim Dennis and Tyke Randall present.
1 Soil
& Water Conservation District
a) Appointment
to Grange Seat – Appointment of Alan J. Teeter was moved by Jim and seconded by
Tyke. [Frank Proto arrived at 4:46
PM.] Appointment passed by
unanimous vote.
2 Approval
of Minutes – The draft minutes of 12/19 were moved by Tyke, seconded by Frank,
and passed by unanimous vote. The
draft minutes of 11/29 were moved by Frank, seconded by Jim, and passed by
unanimous vote.
3 Tompkins
County Planning Department
a) Resolution: Acceptance of Small Cities Economic
Development Grant – RPM Ecosystems -- Moved by Frank, seconded by Jim. Frank called the question and the
resolution passed by unanimous vote.
4 Strategic
Tourism Planning Board
a) Resolution:
Award of Tourism Capital Grant from Room Occupancy Tax Fund -- Resolution moved by Jim, seconded by
Tyke. Materials had been
distributed to members by Martha Robertson, and she made phone calls in order
to address any questions. Frank
asked about the percentage paid to TCAD for program administration. Martha Armstrong said it is not based
on the total of the grants, but is set for the year. The amount for 2006 was established at $10,000 in a
resolution passed by the County Legislature in June. As a result of this correction, the committee agreed to
remove the reference to administration funds from the resolution. In addition
the sequence of the resolved clauses was reversed for clarity.
Frank said at some point expenditures are not
capital improvements, but repairs.
He suggested the Sciencenter be responsible and put repairs in their
budgets. Martha Armstrong said
research shows that 30% of the Sciencenter visitors stop simply because they
see the signs. Charlie Trautmann
said the total project is $200,000, and it has many elements. Appearances will be dressed up at the
end of the project with plantings, and bulbs are part of the budget. There are four major elements, but this
grant funding is not assigned to specific elements. Martha Robertson pointed out the amount of the STPB grant
equals just the cost of six new exhibits, which is only part of the project,
but that is a coincidence. Charlie
Trautmann said they take good care of the facility, and anything in this
campaign is an enhancement.
To better track attendance, the Sciencenter is
installing a new system at their front desk. They currently track zip codes, do periodic surveys, and ask
visitors how they gathered their travel information. In 1991 attendance was 38,000, then it grew to 79,000 in the
first year after their expansion, and in 2006 was 91,000 (half from outside
Tompkins County). Tyke said he
appreciated the information he received prior to this meeting, and he felt
rushed at the last meeting where this was discussed. Multiple grants had been an issue to him, but now he
supports this grant. He seeks
better information in the future.
Martha Robertson said there were “hiccups” on this one, and she will try
to make sure we operate more smoothly in 2007. Regarding multiple grants, PRI and State Theatre are the
biggest recipients, with Sciencenter third. With this, grants to Sciencenter will total $105,000. Martha Armstrong reviewed her job steps
for the capital grants, which include publicity, a workshop, and working
one-on-one with interested businesses.
The capital grants program doesn’t have a steady flow of
applications. Frank wanted to make
sure all areas of the County are part of the outreach, and Martha said Jackie
Kippola does widespread publicity and mailings on the variety of STPB grants
available. The resolution passed
by unanimous vote.
Stu Stein said that STPB would like to make a
presentation for PDEQ members on all types of tourism grants, and perhaps it
could be held at the Sciencenter.
PDEQ members thought all Legislators should be invited.
Addition to Agenda: Ed Marx announced that the Quality Communities grant for the
development of a plan for the Finger Lakes Trail has been awarded to Tompkins
County Planning.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 PM.