Minutes
Planning,
Development & Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County
Legislature
Special Meeting
February 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 y
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.