Member Excused: Peter Penniman

Staff Present:  Katie Borgella, TCPD, Heather Filiberto, TCPD Chrys Gardner, Cooperative Extension, Debbie Giordano, Tompkins Workforce NY, Joan Jurkowich, TCPD, Jackie Kippola, T C Administration, Ed Marx, Commissioner, TCPD
Kathy Wilsea, Secretary, TCPD

Guests:  Carol Chock, STPB, Richard Driscoll, Community Arts Partnership

I Committee Administration

A Call to Order

Vice Chair Dooley Kiefer called the meeting to order at 2:05 PM.

B Agenda Changes

If time allows, Dooley would like to add discussion on a topic from the TCAD report that was included with the agenda.
 
C Approval of Minutes

Kathy Herrera made a motion to approve the minutes, which was seconded by Dan Winch.  [Mike Lane arrived at 2:07 and lead the rest of the committee.]  Dooley submitted some changes and the minutes were approved by vote of 4:0.

D Announcements

Mike announced that Ken Schlather, Executive Director of Cooperative Extension, might drop off some updated information as a followup to last night’s public meeting on the County budget.

II Strategic Tourism Planning Board

E Fall 2003 Beautification Grants

Chrys Gardner was present to review the recommended grants.  She provided photos and a list of previous recipients, noting that past applications have come from all areas except Etna and Varna.  She will do outreach in Etna and Varna.  She reviewed the list of current recommendations, noting most are in the City of Ithaca and each is recommended for $500 in this grant round.

Mike said the County gave $15,000 to the City for the Commons area, and he recalled that this program was designated for rural use.  Chrys said organizations have one year to finish up the prior grants, and some are still working on their Spring grant projects.  Kathy Herrera said the volunteers signed up to work on the City projects show county-wide support for doing beautification projects in well-traveled areas of the City.  Carol Chock, a board member of STPB, said STPB gets a lot of positive comment on this beautification grant program.  Mike said projects in the City are not the purpose of the program, and Dan said he was also surprised at the recommendations, especially the Ithaca High School site.  Chrys said the IHS item is a senior class project, and they were required to find funding.  In response to other questions, she said the project at Route 13 & Clinton Street is on City property, and the mural in Groton is on a building that faces a mini-park, and the design will be approved by the Village Trustees.

Discussion ensued about the parameters of the grant program, obtaining input from STPB and Bridgette Berry, and providing direction to Chrys Gardner if changes are felt to be necessary.  PDEQ members will receive information from Jackie Kippola on the guidelines and how this program was created by STPB and Economic & Workforce Development Committee last year.  Richard Driscoll noted that tourism is pervasive, and has no address.  Chrys reported that JoAnn Cornish and a graduate student are working with her to develop landscape designs around the area Welcome to Ithaca signs.  Staff from the Town of Ithaca will do the planting work.  As the completion cycle finishes from the first grant round, Chrys expects to receive photos and reports.  She offered to make them available to committee members, and Mike suggested she do a brief presentation for the entire Legislature.  Chrys said she has received comments from a grant recipient that one benefit of the program is the need for a volunteer crew, as that required them to make community contacts.  Cooperative Extension also has extensive information on volunteer bases.

These grants do not require a resolution.  Motion was made by Dan to approve the recommendations, seconded by Dooley and passed 4:0.

F Resolution:  Funding of Fall 2003 Tourism Development Grants

Jackie Kippola reminded committee members that the Tourism Development Grants are to help sell tourism projects, not develop them.  In addition to the three types of grants discussed today, the Celebrations grant program is also funded by room tax dollars.  Carol Chock provided a summary of the recommendations that had been included with the agenda.  Kathy made a motion to adopt the resolution, which was seconded by Dooley.  The resolution was amended from “Ithaca Film Festival” to “7th Art Corp.”  Dan said he would like to see publications that mention our tourism projects, and Kathy concurred.  Jackie will share publicity and provide information for on-line promotions.  Resolution adopted unanimously.

G Arts & Cultural Stabilization Grants Update

Richard Driscoll said the stabilization grants were for five organizations, and three are done, one is underway and the last study will begin in January.  For the Hangar Theater and the Kitchen Theater, organizational assessments were done and a setpoint was established so they will be able to measure stabilization.  The consultant will help establish a view of the future.  A planning and development tract is also being developed.

The State Theater’s consultancy included an assessment of their needs in terms of growth as a theater.  Historic Ithaca owns the building, and they needed a model of a theater organization to carry on the performances.

The DeWitt Historical Society already did an initial review, and is now looking for a consultant to work with them for 18 months for growth plans and development of income streams.  County funding is very important to them right now in order to maintain the value of the review process.

Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will begin their review in January, and be compared with operating models of similar-sized organizations in the United States.  Richard noted that all of these organizations were relieved to hire consultants and learn from their expertise.  He considers a long range view to be ten years.

Kathy asked Richard to further explain the funding problems at DeWitt Historical Society, and Richard said their stabilization would be compromised by possible budget cuts.  He will provide reports from the five organizations, and noted in some respects information is confidential.

III Tompkins County Workforce Development

H Resolution:  Acceptance of Promising Practices Grant and Budget Adjustment

The resolution was moved by Dan, seconded by Dooley.  Debbie Giordano said the Promising Practices grant was awarded based on how Tompkins County does resource sharing.  Some of the funds will offset the County budget.  Her department has also received another grant, but that will impact the 2004 budget and was reflected in her over target request presentation.  Resolution adopted by unanimous vote.

IV County Policy on SEQR

I Discussion of Proposed Revisions

Katie Borgella was present to review the proposals drafted by Dooley.  Dooley reviewed the changes.  Mike asked if Katie was comfortable with the changes.  Katie said Government Operations Committee had changed the policy wording to “practically and reasonably”, and that is lost in this edition.  Ed Marx said the last sentence of the policy is slightly different, and he felt “shall make use of expertise” provides an expectation of staff support for other departments and agencies.  Dan referred to item #2 and asked where would the custodial site be for the records that are required to be filed.  For example, will there be a custodian of SEQR records who can answer questions of the public or new legislators?  There was discussion about the necessity of keeping a master list and choosing one location for physical records.  It was agreed there is a need to resolve the records custodian issue.

Ed said one issue raised recently is the designation of lead agencies, in #8.  Cathy Covert has concerns about the Legislature being a lead agency.  Jonathan Wood thinks the County Administrator or the Chair of the Legislature could sign documents.  Discussion ensued on the designation of earliest possible times, and Ed said that needs to be clear.  Mike asked if “shall” make use of Planning and EMC reads as mandatory contact?  It was agreed to delete “and EMC”, and use the phrase “practical and reasonable” in the policy regarding initial contact.  Kathy made a motion to approve the changes in wording, which was agreed upon unanimously.  Research will continue regarding an appropriate contact person for the records.  Cathy Covert will be consulted as to whether this needs to be reviewed by other committees.

Kathy made a motion to adopt the resolution, which was seconded by Dooley.  Vote was unanimous to adopt.

V Environmental Management Council

K EMC Resolution Recommending Adoption of a County SEQR Type I Actions List

Heather Filiberto said she was present as EMC Coordinator to report that EMC adopted this resolution at their last meeting.  Ed provided some clarification of the staff’s role in this, saying they were aware the Environmental Review Committee was working on it, but staff had informed them they felt such action would not be too fruitful.  He had expressed his opinion, and then reiterated it by memo to EMC members after the resolution was passed.  This is pretty much the unanimous opinion of Planning Department staff.  In general, lead agencies for review of development projects are local municipalities that have zoning authority.  TCPD staff needs to deal with municipalities diplomatically, and this would perhaps make muncipalities more reluctant to cooperate.  He feels better ways exist.

Dooley said EMC used the thresholds of the Town of Ithaca and the City for reference.  This was developed by EMC/ERC with no Planning Department input.  Taking no action means we accept the State list.  Ed said even the City and the Town don’t agree, as they have different thresholds.  He doesn’t see benefit for County projects.  Municipalities can enact lower thresholds if they wish.  This action would bind municipalities to the county list if Tompkins County is an involved agency, and he feels municipalities have enough difficulty dealing with NYS thresholds.

Kathy admitted to being a relative layperson, but felt this was an impractical approach.  This is a major change in thresholds, and needs educational outreach to legislators, municipalities and the public.  Dan said he agreed with Kathy, especially as the staff is not in favor of it.  Dooley pointed out this does not impose new thresholds on municipalities.  However, these would be available for their consideration in adopting their own.  Ed pointed out that I-10’s reference to Unique Natural Areas could potentially create conflict with the Type II list.  He doesn’t think there is a one-size-fits-all, either with NYS thresholds or those recommended by EMC.  Municipal thresholds are most commonly tied to local land use.

Mike suggested having some EMC members discuss this with PDEQ at a future meeting.

VI Tompkins County Planning Department

L Resolution:  Authorization to Loan Monies to Advance Design Consulting, Inc. from the Tompkins County Revolving Loan Fund

Heather explained that ADC is an engineering and fabrication consulting firm undergoing expansion.  Of the $150,000 loan, $60,000 would be for equipment and the balance for working capital.  ADC expects to create 30 jobs over a five-year period, with 16 of them being low- to moderate-income.  They currently have nine employees.  This is a typical split of equipment/ capital funding for this kind of grant.  The loan application did not screen for residency of anticipated new employees, but Ed said the program adheres to HUD guidelines.  Kathy said she likes to keep informed on quantity and quality of job opportunities.

Dan asked about the customer base.  Heather said they produce business-specific products for international and military clients.  They recently produced a catalog for prefab items.  Ed said they often produce one-of-a-kind items for research projects.  Heather expects some of the loan money to be used for sales & marketing.

Heather said the SEQR type was changed to Unlisted, and the Town of Lansing is doing the review as an expansion.  She will prepare the neg dec resolution.  Kathy moved the resolutions, which were seconded by Dan and passed unanimously.

VII Appointments

N Appointments :  Homeownership Oversight Committee

Kathy made a motion to appoint Heather Filiberto and Stacey Crawford to the Homeownership Oversight Committee.  Seconded by Dan and passed unanimously.

M Commissioner’s Report

Ed briefly reported that the Comprehensive Plan efforts continue.  The Planning Advisory Board is contributing and that is going well, especially the Open Space committee.  Ed and Joan met recently with the Municipal Officials Association’s Planning Coalition.  Joan presented a model on corridor management.  The Planning Coalition gave it a very enthusiastic reception.  Coordination with the Planning Coalition is going very well, as the group gives good feed back and exchange.  Ed feels this bodes well for the future of the Comprehensive Plan.

Addition to Agenda :

Dooley said the TCAD report that was with the agenda included notes about Primet Precision Materials, a business project that Michael Stamm was enthusiastic about.  Dooley recently came across an article on nanotechnology and related environmental health concerns.  She distributed copies.  The concern is that nanotechnology fabrication produces ultrafine particles that can easily carry deep into the lungs.  It’s possible that manufacturers can’t control emissions or protect workers’ health.

IX Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:06 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Kathy Wilsea, Secretary, Tompkins County Planning Department