Minutes
Planning, Development &
Environmental Quality Committee
Tompkins County Legislature
Regular Meeting
May 18, 2006 3:00 PM Old Jail Conference
Room
Members
Present: Martha Robertson (Chair), Kathy Luz
Herrera, Frank Proto
Members
Excused: Jim Dennis, Tyke Randall
Legislators
Serving as Acting Members: Tim Joseph, Pam Mackesey
Staff: Kate
Hackett, TCPD
Joan Jurkowich, TCPD
Ed Marx, Commissioner of Planning & PW
Kathy Wilsea, TCPD
Visitors: Rick
Adie, STPB
Jean
McPheeters, Chamber of Commerce
Stu
Stein, Strategic Tourism Planning Board
a Budget Line – Frank said he has discussed this with Ed Marx, and it is an item that could be in either budget – Cooperative Extension or Planning Dept. [Pam Mackesey arrived at 3:08. Tim Joseph arrived 3:10.] In the last few years the AFPB item was in the TCPD budget request, with “NR” next to it for no rank. Frank pointed out that increases in work related to PDR projects and additions to Ag Districts meant there might be need for more staff time at CCE in the future. In discussion it was agreed that it would be up to the AFPB to defend any OTR; TCPD will pass it through.
For the record, Tim announced he is appointing himself and Pam Mackesey to PDEQ for today. Frank challenged this because it was done after Tuesday night’s meeting of the Legislature, and a quorum of members was present so this did not constitute an emergency. Martha thanked Tim and Pam for joining the committee and welcomed them.
a Approval
of Minutes from April 20, 2006 – This was taken out of order while Pam was out
of the room. Draft minutes were
moved by Kathy, seconded by Frank and one change was made. Amended minutes passed by 4:0 vote.
2 Ag
& Farmland Protection Board (continued)
b County
Role in PDR – Ed Marx said Planning Department staff is working with towns on
the current round of applications.
These have been reviewed by AFPB.
The County might co-hold the easements with the towns, which is
agreeable to the towns at this point.
This is a significant workload.
The Dryden applications were not funded again this year, on the second
attempt, although they received very high ranking last year among those not
funded. A municipality has to hold
or co-hold the easement. Martha
pointed out she doesn’t want small municipalities that do not have planning staff
to be inhibited from applying. Ed
reported the Howser easement is close to closing, and this two-to-three year
period from application to closing is typical. Frank explained to new members that there was discussion
about Finger Lakes Land Trust co-holding the easement with Tompkins County, but
FLLT has since withdrawn from that aspect of the Howser project. Ed said the
current round of applications is due in June.
a Report
on Aquifer Studies – Kate Hackett said half of Tompkins County residents get
their drinking water from groundwater resources. New York State has no regulations for private drinking water
supplies, other than for construction or abandonment. NYS is 4th among the states in the number of
residents who rely on groundwater for drinking, but 49th in terms of
regulating individual private supplies of groundwater. Cortland County factors in impacts on
their aquifers when they do economic development reviews. Frank pointed out that banks usually
require water testing for real estate deals, but the Health Department does
not.
Kate
provided a color map of surficial aquifers and information that went to
municipalities and agencies in 2000 when the Water Resources Council was
beginning to look at the relationship between ground and surface waters. Though useful, the map does not have
information such as direction of flow, degree of containment, age of the
groundwater or capacity of the aquifers. An educational brochure was
subsequently developed with the Health Department and State Parks as part of
public outreach. In 2002, the
County contracted with US Geological Survey for a scope of work and look at
costs for studying each surficial aquifer. In independent cost-share contracts with USGS, the Town of
Dryden initiated a study of Virgil Creek aquifer and the Town of Caroline
initiated studies of Upper Six Mile Creek and Wilseyville aquifers. In 2004 the County started
participating in the Dryden and Caroline studies. Tompkins County locked in USGS funding participation for the
remaining studies and made study of aquifers a capital program. In 2005 the Town of Danby, Tompkins
County, and USGS contracted to begin the Upper Buttermilk aquifer study. Also in 2005, the WRC Aquifer Committee
surveyed water purveyors to gather their ideas on what actions would best
protect and improve drinking water sources. The survey results will be complete soon.
In
discussion, Kate said the colored areas on the map provide a general indication
of the most abundant groundwater supplies. The partners in the Virgil Creek aquifer study have received
great information, and located an aquifer that has four times the capacity of
the aquifer that currently supplies the Village of Dryden with drinking
water. This discovery originated
with a test well during the study.
Upcoming stormwater regulations and development of stream buffer
regulations might provide a mechanism to help municipalities protect
aquifers. Ed pointed out
identification of water supplies can help a municipality choose targets for
nodal development, as Danby hopes to do.
Caroline also wants to integrate this information into its planning
process.
a Review
of Staffing – Ed Marx and Joan Jurkowich provided a graph showing staffing
levels in the Planning Department over the past ten years. It showed that, due to budget cuts,
staffing has eroded 2 ½ positions since 2000. Staff is doing good work, and Ed
sees lots of Comp Plan implementation coming up, especially in PDR ad
Housing. TCPD won’t be able to
take advantage of any new opportunities that arise, with current staff levels. Ed’s job split with Public Works means
most of his work at TCPD is oversight.
2003 was the first year with a job split for the Commissioner. The portion of the budget that was
previously spent on his full-time TCPD salary has gone to other resources, like
consultants and interns. TCPD may
ask for more staff in budget discussions.
b STOP-DWI
– Ed said TCPD took this on a couple years ago when John Beach retired. This is not the best use of staff
resources, and not related to TCPD mission. Steve Whicher is looking for a new home for this
program. Other counties have it in
with the Sheriff, District Attorney, or Probation departments.
c
Commissioner’s Report – Ed reported the Town of Lansing is ready to sign
a contract for technical assistance to work on their zoning ordinance and
implementation of their Comp Plan.
On June 8th the Director of the Canal Corporation is coming
to Ithaca to discuss three priority projects: Black Diamond Trail, relocation of the DOT facility, and
dredging. Local leaders want to
challenge NYS to have these completed by 2010. Ed recently met with the consultants who are developing the
Cornell University Master Plan, which is currently in the research and analysis
stage. Public meetings will be
held on 5/22 and 5/23 on Natural Features Focus Areas, 5/24 on Housing Needs
Assessment, and 6/8 on Scenic Resources.
A draft of a 20-year capital plan for the County went to the Budget
Committee, will go to Facilities & Infrastructure next week, and to the
County Legislature in June.
a Council
of Governments – Martha Robertson said this concept is growing out of meetings
of municipal officials who meet regularly with County officials. The model is the council in Tioga
County, which was established more than ten years ago as a health insurance
cooperative. Consensus is growing
that we need this type of voluntary organization. In addition to health insurance, similar groups have chosen
to address sales tax and public safety issues. The next meeting will be tomorrow.
a Recognition
Program – Rick Adie and Stu Stein were present to discuss this, and background
was provided with the agenda. Rick
said when Alpha Phi Alpha celebrated their 100th anniversary in Ithaca,
the STPB realized they had no way to thank organizers who bring special,
one-time events to Ithaca. This
program would provide recognition by naming Cornerstone and Keystone awards on
the Waterfront Trail for the honorees.
Impact of events would be calculated in room nights. They are asking for funds to be
released from the room tax revenues: $1,500 for this year, $2,750 following
years for 8 awards. Frank moved to
support this concept in its scope and proposed budget, which was seconded by
Kathy. Martha asked that the program be designed to provide up to eight
awards a year, and that the funds be forwarded to the Waterfront Trail after
designation of the awards, rather than in advance at the beginning of the
fiscal year. The motion passed by unanimous vote. A resolution will be required to set up the program. [Pam left at 4:58.]
b Addition
to Agenda: Resolution: Approval of Amendment to Contract for
Beautification, Signage and Public Art Program Enhancement – This was discussed
at PDEQ meetings in January and February.
Information and draft resolution were provided for members prior to
today’s meeting. Resolution moved
by Frank, seconded by Kathy and passed by unanimous vote. The $29,945 amount would cover
beautification efforts in all communities in one year from reserve funds. [Kathy left at 5:00.]
7 Committee
Administration (continued)
b Appointments
to Planning Advisory Board – Appointments of John Spence and Athena Kalandros
moved by Frank, seconded by Tim and approved by unanimous voice vote.
c Liaison
Reports – These were not presented due to lack of time and absence of several
members.
8 Adjournment
– Members
asked that these items be on next month’s agenda: IDA audit, Economic
Development Strategy, and IDA density policy. The meeting was adjourned at 5:03 PM.
Respectfully
submitted,
Kathy
Wilsea, Secretary
Tompkins County Planning Dept.