MINUTES
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COMMITTEE
(Tompkins County Legislature)
REGULAR MEETING
February 4, 2004 2:00
PM Heyman Conference Room
Members Present: Kathy Luz Herrera, Michael Lane, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Frank Proto
Member Excused: Dick Booth
Other Legislator Present: Dooley Kiefer
Staff: Heather Filiberto,
TCPD; Joan Jurkowich, TCPD; Jackie Kippola, T C Administration; Ed Marx,
TCPD Commissioner; Kathy Wilsea, TCPD;
Guests : Bridgette Berry, CVB; Richard Driscoll, CAP; Scott Wiggins, STPB
I Administration
A Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:08 by Chair Kathy Luz Herrera with Leslyn McBean-Clairborne and Frank Proto present.
B Changes to the Agenda
An appointment to the Water Resources Council was added to the agenda, and
if time allows there will be discussion of questions about the TCAD report
that was attached to the agenda.
C Approval of Minutes
Frank Proto made a motion to approve the minutes of 12/3/2003 and 1/7/2004,
which was seconded by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne. Changes to the minutes
of 1/7 were submitted by Ed Marx and Dooley Kiefer. Approved by vote
of 3:0.
D Announcements
Kathy passed around a copy of a Workforce New York staff memo about the job
exchange that Debbie Giordano will be participating in. Debbie will
be going to West Africa for five weeks, which was announced at the Legislature
session last night. [Mike Lane arrived at 2:15.]
E Appointment of Liaisons for 2004
Kathy had made some phone calls prior to the meeting and other legislators
have agreed to serve in some liaison slots. Members were assigned other
openings and these appointments were made:
Frank Proto Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board
Dick Booth Environmental Management Council
Dan Winch Fish & Wildlife Management Board
Dick Booth MPO Policy Committee
Mike Lane MPO Planning Committee
Dooley Kiefer Planning Advisory Board (Proto alternate)
Dan Winch Regional Forest Practice Board
Leslyn McBean-Clairborne TC First Time Homeownership Oversight Committee (Proto alternate)
Barbara Blanchard &
George Totman Soil & Water Conservation District
Kathy Luz Herrera Water Resources Council
Leslyn McBean-Clairborne Strategic Tourism Planning Board
Leslyn McBean-Clairborne Celebrations Grant Committee
Mike Lane Economic Development Revolving Loan Oversight
(Kiefer alternate)
Leslyn McBean-Clairborne Downtown Partnership Business Improvement District
(not operating 2004) Commercial Center Revitalization Program
II Strategic Tourism Planning Board
F Update
Jackie Kippola, Richard Driscoll and Scott Wiggins were present from STPB.
Scott Wiggins serves as chair, and he provided background information on
their goals, the types of grant programs they administer, and the other organizations
they interact with. He said STPB is a very active and interesting organization,
and by the time their business gets to PDEQ, STPB has provided detailed review
and careful recommendations. Frank asked for a budget breakdown for
STPB, which Jackie Kippola will provide. Frank also requested information
on STPB membership.
Dooley asked if grants are multi-year, and Jackie said some of the capital
grants are multi-year, but the rest are calendar year. Jackie said
they are sponsoring a workshop on tourism development grants next week, and
possible applicants have been notified.
Richard Driscoll provided background on the CAP stabilization grant parameters.
He noted that he meets periodically with Bridgette Berry and Martha Armstrong
to review the grant programs that are funded by the 2% increase in the room
tax. He also reviewed the grant recommendations that were provided
with the agenda.
Mike asked if these recommended grant recipients are stable enough currently
to receive capital reserve grants. Richard said they are, and pointed
out that the application process is rigorous. Frank asked how often
they are permitted to reapply for capital reserves. Richard said that
is a one-time grant. He will continue to discuss capital reserves with
Bridgette Berry and Martha Armstrong. Frank asked what are member item
grants. Richard said some organizations have lines of credit from banks.
These grants eliminate their interest payments. Leslyn wanted to know
about the solicitation process, and Richard said all size groups were notified
of the grant round.
G Resolution: Approval of Contract for Arts and Cultural Stabilization – Community Arts Partnership
Moved by Mike, seconded by Frank. Leslyn questioned the recommendation
for denying application of the Kitchen Theater for grant writing. Richard
said there is no reasoning in their strategic plan to support it. Frank
asked if CAP could require or suggest that grant recipients mentor smaller
groups. Richard said they might look at that in the future as the recipients
become stronger, as that could develop some mutual support. Dooley
suggested amendments to the resolution, which were accepted.
The amended resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.
Appointment: Motion was made by Frank and seconded by Leslyn to appoint
Paul Tatar to the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance (formerly the Finger Lakes
Association), which passed unanimously.
III Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
H Update
Bridgette Berry reported that tourism was booming in Tompkins County in 2003.
Occupancy and rates were up, which raised room tax income. She distributed
some information that compared recent activity to previous years and provided
a recap of trackable services. She noted that Heather Webber of CVB
staff has been getting travel writers to visit the area. They are now
tracking requests from media. Regarding the February’s Hot promotion,
packages are beginning to be posted by hoteliers on the website. Light
in Winter information is starting to come in and innkeepers are giving good
reports. Bridgette announced that she is resigning as director of CVB
and PDEQ members commended her fine work and said they would miss her.
IV Planning Department
G Commissioner’s Report
Ed Marx said the vote on the annexation petition for the Department of Transportation
relocation will be the second week of March. Other arrangements are
proceeding on the DOT move. Frank asked if moving the maintenance facility
will bring more effectiveness for full highway plowing coverage, and Ed said
he didn’t think the facility location was an issue in getting coverage.
Mike asked if there has been discussion yet on tax sharing, and Ed said there
has not. These topics could become part of the discussion with municipalities
which will begin at the meeting later today with municipal officials.
Ed said he has been working with TC Mental Health Dept. to locate a single-room
occupancy facility in Tompkins County, which PDEQ members agreed there is
a need for.
J Comprehensive Plan Update
Ed said this is a major priority for the Planning Department in 2004.
He expects to share progress at every PDEQ meeting. The draft is being
finalized for public review, and Wendy Skinner is helping with the writing.
Meetings are being scheduled with groups who had input last year, some other
community groups, adjacent counties and some NYS agencies. In March
and April staff will hold open houses in the towns and the City. Displays
will be put in area libraries and community buildings, and media coverage
will be arranged. Frank asked that Legislators be kept informed of
meeting dates. Ed said they hope to finish the public input phase in
May and then move on to the SEQR review and public hearings. The Planning
Advisory Board has a role in reviewing the plan as it develops. Frank
asked for information on the membership of the PAB. Ed reviewed the
vacancies, and will provide a membership list to PDEQ members.
K 2004 Work Program
Ed distributed copies of the draft Planning Department Work Program.
He asked PDEQ members to review it and be prepared for discussion at the
March meeting. He pointed out the priorities that are listed on page
2: completion of the Comp Plan, pilot programs of the Transportation
Community Systems Preservation Planning Grant, and decision-making on the
future of the Local Government Assistance program.
L Resolution: Authorizing Submittal of 2004 Small
Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Application to Continue
the Tompkins County Homeownership Program (VII)
Heather Filiberto said this grant application is for $600,000. She
provided some background information on this program, saying it has helped
193 clients to date. Tompkins County is now receiving program income
and reinvests it in the community. Our default rate is very low – 2
clients out of the 193, or 1% – and this compares favorably with the FHA
rate of 9%. Currently we have 2% of clients in arrears, and that also
compares favorable with the national rate of 7 to 10% for similar programs.
The resolution was moved by Leslyn and seconded by Frank. Frank asked
if locations are tracked. Heather said they are, and the sites are
well distributed. She will provide a map for PDEQ members. Leslyn voiced
appreciation for the depth of financial counseling provided to applicants.
She suggested partnering with Ithaca Neighborhood Housing to reach more people
with the counseling. Heather said the County program was designed with
lots of input from mortgage lenders, and periodically undergoes revisions
based on surveys that include clients. If the default rate were higher,
the County might consider providing more counseling options. Ed Marx
pointed out that such a program would require using a larger portion of the
grant for administration rather than helping clients. He suggested
discussing the topic at an oversight committee meeting.
Mike said at the New York State Association of Counties meeting he stopped
at the Small Cities kiosk and asked about the City of Ithaca’s designation
whereby they file a five year plan and do not submit specific project proposals
anymore. He was told that Tompkins County’s population would need to
be over 200,000 in order to qualify for that type of designation. Mike
suggested having one PDEQ goal be to look at Small Cities grants in terms
of whether or not we want to continue to address housing. We might
examine infrastructure needs. The committee could make a decision to
stay with housing or change.
Resolution passed unanimously.
M Resolution: Designation of an Annual Review Period
When Landowner Proposals for Inclusion of Viable Agricultural Lands Within
Existing Certified Agricultural Districts Will be Reviewed and Acted Upon
by the Tompkins County Legislature
Resolution moved by Leslyn and seconded by Frank. Ed pointed out that
this is for the annual addition process only. The eight-year revision
cycle remains in place.
Resolution passed unanimously.
V Appointments
N Resolution: Appointments to Industrial Development Agency
Moved by Mike and seconded by Frank. Frank and Leslyn asked how Legislators
could be considered for seats next year, and was told to discuss it with
Legislature Chair Tim Joseph.
Resolution passed unanimously.
O Water Resources Council
Motion was made by Frank to approve appointment of Barry Goodrich and David
Stilwell to WRC. Seconded by Leslyn and passed unanimously.
VI Committee Goals
Q Plan Discussion for March
A copy of 2003 PDEQ goals was distributed. Members were asked to submit
ideas for 2004 goals to Kathy Wilsea by 2/18. She will organize them
for discussion next month.
Addition to the Agenda: Tompkins County Area Development
Representatives from TCAD and IDA will be invited to the March PDEQ meeting.
Frank said he would like them to provide more information about the proposed
changes to the abatement policy. Frank also asked Kathy Luz Herrera
for an update on Empire Zones after the IDA meeting this Friday.
VII Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 1:51 PM.
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