MINUTES
PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
(Tompkins County Legislature)
JULY 30, 2003 - 2 P.M.
HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
Members Present:    Kathy Luz Herrera, Mike Lane, Peter Penniman, Dan Winch

Member Excused:    Dooley Kiefer

Staff Present:        Jackie Kippola, T C Administration; Ed Marx, Commissioner, TCPD; Kathy Wilsea, Secretary, TCPD

Guests:        Bridgette Barry, Convention & Visitor’s Bureau; Jean McPheeters, Chamber of Commerce; Andrew Tutino, Ithaca Journal;
Stuart Stein, Strategic Tourism Planning Board
           
I    Committee Administration

A    Call to Order

Chair’s designee Peter Penniman called the meeting to order at 2:14 PM.   Also present were Kathy Luz Herrera and Dan Winch.

B    Agenda Changes

There were no changes to the agenda.

C    Approval of Minutes

Approval of the minutes was deferred to the August 6th meeting.

D    Announcements

There were no announcements.

II    Convention & Visitors Bureau

E    Budget Proposal for 2004

Bridgette Berry, Jackie Kippola, Jean McPheeters and Stu Stein were present to provide information on the budget proposal.  Stu reviewed the agenda attachment for the Room Occupancy Tax Budget.  Bridgette reported that tax receipts are up for the first and second quarters of this year when compared with last year.  Tompkins County has higher rates and higher occupancy than Rochester and Syracuse.  CVB had projected a conservative 3% increase.  Stu pointed out that the room tax rate is now higher, but comparisons are at the 3% level.  In the budget, the allotment for the Chamber of Commerce has been raised in the last two years, as their contract has taken in some items that used to be budgeted separately, such as Discovery Trail and Finger Lakes Tourism membership.  [Dan left at 2:30.]  Jean said June visitorship was highest in history, and July has been busy. 

Bridgette said next year will have lots of marketing for kids – Paleontological Research Institution, Ornithology Lab expansions and Sciencenter.  Innkeepers continue to tell Bridgette that business is down, but statistics show increases.  Two new hotels, Hampton Inn and Hilton Inn, are expected to open in the next year, and the Airport Inn (Marriott) is expanding.  Bridgette said she is excited about expectations for Tompkins County.  She noted the signage program is proceeding, so directions will be easier for visitors.

Stu said the STPB Beautification Grants are yielding nice improvements, which are considered by many to be big bangs for the bucks.  Some recipients have commented on the plus of using the small grant program being that it makes them interact with the community and find volunteers.  [Mike Lane arrived at 2:40.]  Bridgette said she will be available for the September PDEQ meeting if committee members want her to attend for budget discussions.

Mike Lane expressed an interest in development of bicycle tourism, and recalled that last December area hoteliers had a meeting on this.  He said he hopes trails can be developed, and some projects in the County seem to be stuck but they remain ideas that could be developed and promoted.  Jean McPheeters said the Black Diamond Trail seems to be one of those projects that is stuck.  Mike said trails in Dryden are stuck, too, and wondered if the County could offer help to get some of these projects going again.  Ed said this is a regional issue that can benefit from county-level leadership.  Bridgette wondered if STPB and the Transportation Council could have roles in activating some of the ideas.  Jean said the Chamber of Commerce is interested in moving trails projects along, and the waterfront trail is proceeding nicely.  Jean said Sue Poelvoorde of Finger Lakes State Parks has been a contact for trail development. 

Ed said he would ask Fernando deAragon to provide comment next week when he provides an ITCTC update for the PDEQ meeting.  Kathy said bike routes can be developed for shoppers, too, as her constituents want safer ways to bike to shopping areas.

F    Resolution:  Designation of Tourism Promotion Agency for State Fiscal Year 2003 – 2004

Jackie Kippola said this designation is established on an annual basis, and allows application to New York State for funding.  Motion was made by Peter to adopt the resolution, seconded by Kathy and passed 3:0.

III    Planning Department

G    Annual Report Discussion

Ed passed out copies of the Annual Report, and said copies will go to other legislators by next week’s meeting of the Legislature.  He said he has seen a theme of progress on the capacity of the community to cooperatively plan for the future.  Framework is developing by the efforts that have gone into the Vital Communities Initiative, and relationships for municipal cooperation are evident in the creation of the Planning Coalition by the Municipal Officials Assocation.  This framework is further developing with the Comprehensive Plan efforts, and is evidenced by the efforts to jointly develop a multi-jurisdictional all hazard mitigation plan.  Staff efforts are making increasing types and amounts of information available to the public and municipalities.  Water resources information, the Natural Resource Inventory, Census information for the County, and the Vital Communities Initiative Toolbox are now or will soon be on the web.  The NRI information, for example, will allow a board or applicant to answer most questions involved in a SEQR review by referencing this on-line, interactive resource.  This all adds up to effective participatory democracy.  TCPD contributes with tools, process, and support for advisory boards. 

Mike asked what Ed’s expectations were for the budget.  Ed said TCPD is in reasonably good shape if allowed to use rollover.  They have submitted minimal overtarget requests, most of which are funded by rollover.  Also, part of Ed’s salary will be an expense of T C Administration next year.

IV    Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3:06 PM.

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