Minutes
Planning, Development & Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County Legislature
October 5, 2005  2:30 PM     Heyman Conference Room
Members Present:     Kathy Luz Herrera (Chair), Barbara Blanchard, Mike Lane, Frank Proto

Member Excused:      Nancy Schuler

Staff:            Jackie Kippola, TC Administration; Ed Marx, Commissioner of Planning and Public Works
           
Visitors:        Fred Bonn, Convention & Visitors Bureau; Richard Driscoll, Community Arts Partnership; Dan Klein, Cooperative Extension

I    Administration

A    Call to Order – Chair Kathy Luz Herrera called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.

B    Changes to the Agenda – Barbara Blanchard would like to discuss information passed out by Mike Lane on the Empire Zone in Cortland County.  Ed Marx announced the Clerk of the Legislature has asked PDEQ to discuss membership in the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization, and that will be added to Planning.  Kathy asked that committee goals be reviewed at next month’s meeting.

C    Approval of Minutes – Suggested language amendments were distributed for the 9/7 minutes, as provided by Kate Hackett.  Minutes from all three meetings were moved by Frank and accepted by unanimous voice vote.

D    Announcements – Barbara provided information on the DOT move.  She spoke with Senator Seward and DOT is definitely moving forward with this project.  It will take a few years, though.  We can expect a press release soon that DOT will be proceding.  It will be a DOT project, not a turnkey.  Kathy said yesterday we got news that during the Conference on the Environment, NYS Association of EMCs will be awarding first place project award to Tompkins County EMC for their Open Burning Campaign.  She congratulated the Planning Department and EMC.

II    Tompkins County Planning Department

E    Resolution:  Acceptance of Small Cities Grant – Homeownership VII

Ed Marx said this $600,000 grant should help 22 families obtain homes in Tompkins County.  We revised the program in order to get the grant this year, and information on program guideline changes will go to Legislators and to the press.  These are diminishing liens instead of deferred loans.  If the homeowners keep the home for ten years, they do not need to pay anything back to the County.  We have program income from older grants, and there are three ways we can continue to operate with those funds:  (1) continue to operate with a loan program and make some distinction about who gets priority for the diminishing lien program; (2) transform that money and operate the whole program as diminishing liens; or (3) ask HUD to use it in a different way to support affordable housing.  Option (3) will be considered after the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment is complete.  Frank asked if buyers get counseling on financial management and energy usage.  Social Services and Cooperative Extension expect up to 7,000 homes to have problems with increased energy bills this year.  Ed said he will ask Better Housing for Tompkins County about adding energy efficiency to the financial counseling. 

Resolution moved by Frank, seconded by Barbara.  Barbara suggested learning about Ithaca Neighborhood Housing’s program that combines loans with liens.  The resolution was amended to add a Whereas clause mentioning how many families will be aided with this grant.  Passed by unanimous vote.

F    Resolution:  Authorization to Accept 2005 Snowmobile Trails Grant-In-aid

Ed said this resolution must be submitted with the application, and the resolution doubles as the grant agreement.  Moved by Mike, seconded by Frank and passed unanimously.

G    Resolution:  Creation of Capital Reserve Fund for Natural and Recreational Resource Protection

Ed displayed a map and distributed a revised resolution.  Last month Mike wanted the resolution to reflect recreational facilities, so Ed wanted to make the language more precise.  The map shows where moneys could be spent under the resolution.  Mike wondered why the wetlands being purchased by Dryden for trails wasn’t on the map.  Ed said areas on the map have multiple layers, and one characteristic wasn’t enough.  We still have huge areas that can qualify, and cover all municipalities.  This map is referenced in the Comp Plan, and Ed said that the Comp Plan would need to be amended in order to change the map of the focus areas but the trail corridors could be amended without changing the plan as they were not specified in the plan.  It’s possible the fund will sit for a couple years while projects are identified and brought forward.  Projects will be in partnership with municipalities and/or other agencies, and will require local agreement.  Spending from this fund will require Legislative approval.  This resolution will also need to go through Government Operations and Budget & Capital committees.  Resolution was moved by Barbara, seconded by Mike and passed unanimously.

H    Commissioner’s Report – Ed brought information on discussions with Ag & Farmland Protection Board on administration and holding of easements on farmland.  Frank and Mike had also been present at the discussions.  Ed wanted to make clear that the County would only undertake a leadership role if the municipalities felt it was appropriate.  If the municipalities are interested in administering and holding ag easements, that would be fine.  Ed has suggested a County role because it would better serve the farmers and be more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.  All taxpayers benefit from ag protection.  Although different opinions were expressed at AFPB, there was no agreement on a best solution.  Ed would like to begin discussing this with towns.  Frank said Dave Beham from NYS Ag & Markets left an impression that the towns should have a strong role, but concurred that AFPB did not reach a conclusion.  Mike still supports having towns hold the easements.  Kathy said she would characterize today’s committee response as guarded interest and that it is OK for Ed to discuss this with the townds.  Ed said any recommendation is months away. 

Additions to the Agenda:  Tim Joseph pointed out that the County received an agreement and dues invoice for continued participation in the Cayuga Watershed Intermunicipal Organization.  Kate Hackett serves on the technical advisory committee.  Dan Winch used to serve on IO.  This should be someone from the elected body.  Town of Lansing currently administers the program.  Barbara suggested waiting until the new Legislature is formed and finding out if someone is willing to serve.  The dues ($900) are budgeted, so the invoice can be paid.  PDEQ members were interested in having a report on IO at a future meeting.  Frank suggested Darby Kiley and Doug McEver be invited. 

Mike Lane reported on IDA’s public hearings on Cayuga Green.  Mike felt opinion was 50/50 for and against.  Mike found it interesting that the people who spoke against the abatements were loaded with information about Regal Cinemas and the developer.   

III    Strategic Tourism Planning Board

I    Proposal for Beautification Grants – Dan Klein reviewed the proposal that was included with the agenda.  The proposal is for review of guidelines and consideration of implementing high-impact projects in the towns.  Now that the grants have been going on for three years, they feel it’s time to use the leftover grant money to study ways to make the program stronger.  Frank asked how much is in reserve and how much is in the separate grant to the City.  Dan said Jean McPheeters serves on the Beautification Advisory Board, and BAB feels this grant program needs organization.  Mike asked what kind of ideas are being considered.  Dan said a municipality or travel corridor might be identified and examined.  They would discuss it with the municipality and highway department to develop a plan, then shop it around to the property owners and try to organize steps to initiate the plan.  This would not change the budget.  Barbara wondered how this can be evaluated in terms of tourism.  It was agreed this is a difficult component.  Kathy asked how target areas would be identified, and if the matching funds continue to be required.  Also, follow-up care needs to be identified.  Dan said first steps would include contact with municipalities to see what they have, what they are interested in, and how projects would be cared for.  Staff would develop plans for interested municipalities, with matching funds and/or in-kind donations.  They want to focus interest and get commitments for long-term care.  Reports on plans and implementation were requested as Dan’s work unfolds.  Frank moved to go ahead with the proposal as outlined, which was seconded by Barbara and passed unanimously. 

J    Resolution:  Funding of Community Celebrations Grants – Jackie Kippola was present to review the fall Celebrations round.  Most of these will take place in 2006.  Resolution was moved by Mike, seconded by Frank.  Frank asked about how many years the same applicant is funded.  Jackie said the committee typically will fund the same event a couple times, then contacts the organizers and suggests they find other ways to keep supporting the event.  Passed by unanimous vote.

K    Resolution:  Funding of Tourism Marketing and Advertising Grants – Moved by Mike, seconded by Barbara.  Frank asked about the Community Foundation application.  Fred Bonn said the review committee has STPB members and some members of the community who are professional marketers.  Their work is very thorough and thoughtful.  National Dance Week is not yet organized as a not-for-profit organization, so they are currently under the umbrella of the Community Foundation.  That’s why you see Community Foundation in the grant information.  Jackie said National Dance Week has an excellent marketing plan.  STPB allows organizations to apply in more than one category.  Passed by unanimous vote.

L    Resolution:  Funding of Tourism Project Grants – Moved by Barbara, seconded by Frank.  Jackie said a workshop was held on this grant category, but there were only two applications in this round and only one is recommended for funding.  Jackie said the Arts & Culture Stabilization program will help the Country Music Headliners Series get organized.  Fred said the country music plan that was submitted was not well organized, so it was not funded.  The acts proposed wouldn’t fit into the State Theatre, but STPB will work with them to make the proposal viable.  Passed by unanimous vote.

M    Resolution:  Funding of Tourism New Initiatives Grants – Moved by Frank, seconded by Mike.  Jackie said this was another category without many applicants.  The Comedy Central NY application was denied for similar reasons as the Country Music Headliners (above).  The Dragon Boat Festival only qualified for $11,500.  This is the third year Light in Winter has applied, and the last year they are eligible as a new initiative.  Passed by unanimous vote.

Mike asked about the stabilization grants, and Richard Driscoll said they are going very well.  Right now Stu Stein and Carol Chalk are coming up with a status report for PDEQ, and that will include evaluation measures. 

Additions to Agenda:  Barbara said she was puzzled by the information passed out on the Empire Zone in Cortland County.  There was speculation that the deadline for new applications was September 29th, while the December 31st deadline appears to be for new projects in existing zones.  Mike said 180 acres of the Cortland County Empire Zone, just over the border from Tompkins County, is good ag land and might be an attraction for some companies. 

Frank asked about the Scenic Resources Inventory RFP.  Ed said a Planning Advisory Board committee has been working on this and Katie Borgella let PDEQ members know it was available last week.  Barbara asked that information on the scope of work be sent to the Legislature so interested PDEQ members could review it.

IV    Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 4:10 PM. 

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